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GIFT  OF 

IIK^  I1411PSI-IIRE  STATE  LIBRARY 


NHamp 
E 

520.5 
l6th 
.T6 
1897 


%L^' 


Townsend,  L.T.  (Luther 
Tracy),  I838-I922 
History  of  the  Sixteenth 
regiment ,  New  Hampshire 
volunteers 


,^^^.A- 


THARS  AMj  I^RAYHl^S  AT  HOME. 


HISTORY 


OF    THE 


Sixteenth    Regiment,   New  Hampshire 
Volunteers. 


BY 
adjutant,    LUTHHR    TRACY    TOWNSEND. 


Published  by 
HENRY    L.   JOHNSON    AND     LUTHER     T.    TOWNSEND. 


NORMAN    T,    KLI.IOTT, 

1'  r  i  II  t  e  r    and    P  u  b  1  i  s  her. 

WASHINCTON.     D.    C, 

1S97. 


9^:7      0     .     -ST 


Copyrifjhted   1897 
Uy   IUnr\-   I,    Johnsou  and  I.uthcr  T.  Townsciul. 


C  O  N  I  H  N  r  s  . 
CHAPTHR  I. 

Pase. 

Preface 9,  10 

Northern  Troops   at   Disadvantagp; 11 

Slumbering  of  the  military  spirit  at  the  North,  and  activity  at 
the  vSouth.  [elfersun  Davis  and  his  schemes.  Federal 
troops  were  brave  but  i.s^iiorant  of  militar\-  matters. 

CHAPTEK   II. 

Org.vnization  and  I)p:p.\rturi';  ok   the  Reiwment 22 

1.  Organization — Camp    life    at    Concord.         The    professional 

gambler  ;  foraging  procli\ilies.     Rebellion  against  shoddy 
overcoats. 

2.  Departure — Sorrow  of  the  home.     Farewells.     F^xperiences 

in  New  York.      Poor  rations  at  the  outset.      Thanksgiving 
dinner. 

CHAPTtfl^    III. 

Sea    \'((va(Vi-; 33 

luubarking  on  FUistern  Oueen.  Superstition.  Tem])estuoiis 
weather  and  sea  sickness.  F'ortress  Monroe.  Pleasant 
weather  and  rebellions.  Sense  of  justice.  Corn  meal 
l)orridge  ;;nd  doughnuts.  Yarns.  Wreck  of  the  M.  San- 
Ford.  Dry  Toitugus  and  its  sutler.  A  norther.  vSliip 
Island.  I'arrHgnt's  victcjrv.  (leueral  Jackson's  victory. 
]/anding.      ( )ur  one  eyed  pilot. 

CHAPTHK   IV. 

Camp  Like    in   Carkoi.etijn ,'',2 

Pitching  tents.  Malarial  ills.  Experiences  of  Companies 
C,  D  and  ¥.  Drills.  Poor  hos])ital  accommodations. 
Northern  surgeons  and  southern  diseases.  Orilers  and 
counter  orders.  Rail  fences.  .Skill  of  northern  troojjs. 
Deaths  of  Campbell  and  VViMs.       Ihisoldierly  thoughts. 

CHAPTHK  V. 

I'iRST  Advance  on  Port  Hudson 73 

Change  of  muskets.       ()n   the  transport.       "Camp   Dunghill." 
Dela}s.      vSong  over  ])oor  rations.       F'arragut  jiassing   Port 
^y  Hudson.       Retreat.        Southern    thunder    storms.      Troojjs 

^  supjilyiug   themselves  witl;   sugar. 

CHAPTHP  VI. 

A  Mud  March  Unparai,i,1';i,Ed  Ditrinc,  the  War 96 

~\  The  start.       Walking   on    sugar.      MisdirecticMis.      Discrimina- 

■^  tion    that    was    criminal.         Preparation     for    an    attack. 

lieswamped.      Posting  for  the  night.      A  stranger  in  camp. 

A  hideous  retreat.     The  belated  pickets.     Taken  prisoners. 

I)ist)bedience  and  "'horse  sense."     The  next  morning  after 

the  march.       Recapitulation.       Recruits  from  the  conva'es- 

cent  camp. 


CHAPTER  VI!. 

RKTi-Rx  TO  Raton  Rough  and  Expedition  to  Brashear  City.  126 
A  (lesiral)le  camping  ground.  The  movement  down  the  Miss- 
issippi. Illustration  of  total  depravity.  Movement  to 
Brashear  City.  Mosquitoes.  Irksome  duties.  Expedi- 
tion of  Lieut.'  Wilkins.  Destruction  of  Oiti'cu  of  the  West. 
Fighting  up  the  Teche  Country. 

CHAPTHR  Vlll. 

Captikk  ()K  Fort  Burton,  at  Butte  a  la  Rose 150 

Previous  attempts  to  subjugate  bayous  Teche  and  .\tchafalaya. 
The  new  expedition.  The  scenery.  Mishaps  and  diffi- 
culties. The  fight.  "Swamp  devils."  Befooled.  The 
prophecy. 

CHAPTHR  IX. 

Detached  Service '69 

1.  Service    rendered    by    Company   C.     Captain   I).   P.  Upton. 

On  the  Arizona. 

2.  Service    rendered    by    Company    Ct.     Volunteering    of    the 

company.  More  than  they  bargained  for.  Making  them- 
selves comfortable.  Dividing  rations.  Contrabands  com- 
ing in.      Carrying  despatches. 

3.  Two  other  expedition.s — First,  the   molasses   candy   expedi- 

tion.     vSecond,  the  expedition  that  made  no  headway. 

CHAPTER    X. 

The  Garreson  of  Disease  and  Death 186 

Location  of  Fort  Burton.  Mosquitoes  and  other  jiests.  Lack 
of  supplies.  Hosteter's  Bitters.  Pitiful  sights.  Pleading 
lor  a  transfer.  (General  Banks  in  danger.  Our  regiment 
abandoned.  I'inal  effort  of  the  adjutant.  Captain  Hyatt's 
intercessions  and  letter. 

CHAPTER    XI. 

ICvacuation  oI''  Butte  a  \.\  Rose  and  Return  to  Port  Hudson...     210 
The  rescue.     Dismantling  of  the  fort.     A  narrow  escape  from 
an   accident.     Followed    up    by    the    Confederates.     Their 
view  of  Butte  a  la   Rose.     Three  pictures.     Again  in  Bra- 
shear Cit\-.      Pickled  cabbage.      Reiurn  to  Port  Hudson. 

CHAPTER    XII. 

The  Investment  oe  Port  Hudson 220 

Three  ways  of  gaining  ])ossession  of  the  place.  Letter  of 
Banks  to  C.rant.  "Impregnable  works  "  and  "  inaccessi- 
ble fortifications."  ('.rant's  method.  The  first  assault  by 
Banks.  The  .Sixteenth  ordered  into  the  trenches.  Order 
countermanded.  Oeneral  Emory.  Condition  of  the  Six- 
teenth. Second  as.sault.  Criminal  slaughter  of  New 
Hampshire  men.     Negro  troops.      .V  new  peril, 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

Three  Affairs  of  Independent  and  Important  Interest 240 

1.  "The   Stonnitig  Column" — General    Order    number    forty- 

nine.     The  unwisdom  of  the  order.     The  fortunate  esca])e. 

2.  Attack  at  Sprinj^field  Landing — Location.     Commendations 

of  the  Sixteenth. 

3.  Defence  of  Fort  Butler  at  Donaldsonville — The   defenders. 

Location.     Major   Bnllen's   report  and   death.      Desperate     ' 
fighting.     The  enemy  fooled.     The   brave   lad  of  the   Six- 
teenth.    Close  of  the  siege.     Commendations. 

CHAPTHR    XIV. 

Dark  Hours  Precedino  the  I-'ai.e  of  Port  Htdson 273 

General  depression  throughout  the  country.  Resisting  the 
drafts.  Federal  defeats.  Department  oi"  the  Gulf.  Gen- 
eral Grant.  .Surrender  of  Vicksburg.  .Surrender  of  I'ort 
Hudson. 

CHAPTHR    XV. 

Retrospective 290 

Disposition  of  the  regiment.  Comparative  losses.  We  answeretl 
all  calls  made  upon  us.  Brilliant  movements.  Instances 
of  poor  generalshi]).      Ivpitapli. 

CHAPTHR    XVI. 

Return  and  Muster  Out 301 

Contrasts.  Captain  Bosworth's  statement.  Captain  Howard's 
statement.  Remark  of  the  post  quartermaster.  The  start. 
Leaving  sick  and  dying  men  on  the  way.  Cattle  and  freight 
cars.  Arrival  at  Concord.  Affecting  scenes.  Conclusion 
of  the  narrative. 

CHAPTHR    XV  n. 

Presi'.nt  Point  of  \'ie\v  1897 313 

Philosophv  of  hi.story.  Animosities  of  the  jiast.  Our  cause 
right  and  just.  Rightful  recognition  of  soldiers'  services. 
Worthy  pensioners.  Readiness  for  war.  The  soldier  a 
minister  of  righteousness  and  peace.  The  perilous  cry  of 
"peace."  The  heroic  spirit.  .State  militia.  The  training 
of  our  youth. 
Roster   of   our    dead    and    living    Comrades,    and    personal 

sketches 3 29-56 1 

.Summary 562 

.Sketch  of  origin  of  the  Association,  and  construction  of  the 
Headquarters  Building  of  .Sixteenth  Regiment  at  Tiie 
Weirs 5^5-574 


TABLE    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 

I'rontispiece — Tears  ami  Prayers  at  Home. 

"Belter  Overcoats  or   No  Muster  In" ..:  =  : 26 

One  of  the  Contractors -■ 3° 

Eastern  Queen  in  Rough  Weather 36 

The  Only  vSouthern  Woman   to  Visit  Our  Sick  in  New  Orleans....  58 

Thinking  of  Home 68 

Diagram  of  the  Parapet  at  Carrollton 71 

Why  vShonld   Union  Soldiers   Starve? 80 

Passage  of  Port  Hudson  by  Admiral  Farragut's  Fleet 84 

Each  Man  His  Own  Cook 87 

Diagram   showing  the   position   of    vSixteenth   before   Port  Hudson. 

April   15th. 90 

Laying  in   vSugar  Supplies 93 

Diagratn  of  the  "Mud  March" 103 

Group  of    Pickets  Following  the  Regiment  on  the  "  I\Iud   March"  115 

Beating  the  Reveille  to  Rouse  the  Men   After  the  "  Mud  INIarch  ".  121 

Brashear  City  and  Berwick  Bay 132 

Destruction  of  Queen   of   the  West 140 

Diagram  of  the  fight  near  Franklin 144 

Diagram  showing  position  of  Banks'  forces  at  P'ranklin 147 

Diagram  showing  bayous  west  of  the  Mississippi 154 

A  Glimpse  of    Grand  Lake I57 

Near  Butte  a  la  Rose  ;    Bushwhackers  I'iring  on  F'ederal  Transports  160 

The  Capture  of  Butte  a  la  Rose 163 

Guerrillas  Firing  on  the  Louisiana  Belle 172 

Contrabands  Coming  Within   Federal  Lines 177 

Diagram  showing  F'ort  Burton   and   Butte  a  la   Rose 187 

Picket  Duty  at   Butte  a  la  Rose 191 

Bringing  in   I'resh  Vegetables 195 

Keeping  up  Appearances  at  Butte  a  la  Rose 202 

The  Sentry  in  a  Thunder  Storm 216 

General   Banks'   Headtjuarters  Before  Port  Iliulson,  (Guarded  by  the 

Sixteenth  230 

The  Negro  Color  vSergeant 236 

vSpringfield  Landing 248 

Fort  Butler  and   Donaldsoiiville  269 

The  Confederates  Grounding  Arms  at  Port  Hudson 284 

Raising  vStars  and  vStripes  at  Port  Hudson 288 

vSoldiers  Laying  Aside  the   Implements  of  War  and  Returning  to  the 

Arts  of  Peace 299 

P'loating    Hospital    at  Vickshurg 305 

Interior  of  I-'loating  Hospital 306 

The   Wife  Whose  Husband  Did  Not  Return 310 

Henceforth  let  the  Soldier  be   Honored 329 

A  Camp  I'ire  at  The  Weirs 563 

Our    Headquarters 569 


^^c^ication. 


TO    OUR    IJHAD    AND    LIVING    COMRADHS, 

AND 

TO  THOSE  WHO  IN  SUSPENSE  AND  ANGUISH 

REMAINED  AT  HOME  TO  SUFFER  WHILE  THEIR  LOVED 

ONES  WERE  IN  THE  ARMY 

THIS  VOLUME 

IS 

AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED. 


PREFACE. 


SEVERAI^  years  have  pas(  since  tlie  adjiitaiir  of  tlie 
Sixteenth  New  nam}»shire  regimeiit  was  a[)i)ointe(I 
l)y  liis  coniranes  to  wi-ite  their  reiiiinciital  liistoi'v. 
Other  duties  ha\'e  in-eveiited  his  eiiteiiiiL;'  upon  the  com- 
position of  the  wof]<.  until  the  ])resent  yeai'.  'IMie  neai'ly 
completed  maniisci-i})t  was  siil)mitte(l  to  the  surviviiii;' 
members  of  the  regiment  who  were  present  at  the  re- 
union held  in  August,  1800,  at  the  Weirs,  and  its 
immediate  publication  was  requested.  The  committee 
having  the  publication  of  the  history  in  (diarge,  after  a 
careful  consideration  of  the  nmtter,  reached  the  con- 
clusion that  it  first  slunild  l)e  brought  out  in  some  one 
of  the  New  Hampshire  publications,  and  the  Gkanite 
Monthly  was  selected. 

The  author  w^as  led  to  undertake  the  writing  of  this 
history  from  his  pei'sonal  interest  in  the  remarkable  rec- 
ord of  the  regiment  and  from  the  frequently  expressed 
desire  of  many  of  his  army  comrades.  Ther<^  is  no  ques- 
tion, we  presume,  that,  otliei'  things  being  equal,  the 
officers  best  qualihed  to  pie])are  a  regimental  history  are 
the  colonel  and  his  adjutant,  the  adjutant,  perha])s,  hav- 
ing some  advantages  over  the  coloiKd.  Nothing  relating 
to  the  regiment  takes  place  at  headquarters  with  which 
the  adjutant  is  not   made   accpiainted.        All    i-egimeiital 


orders  pass  tlir()U<>li  his  lininls  and  receive  liis  signature. 
He  is  in  toiicdi  with  the  officers  on  tlie  one  hand,  and 
with  I  lie  men  in  tlie  ranks  on  tlie  other.  It  is  almost  a 
duly  imposed  upon  him  to  keep  a  journal  of  all  im[)ort- 
ant  orch-i's  and  movements— at  least  every  efficient  adju- 
tant will  do  this.  But  there  is  one  drawback:  namely, 
when  llu'  adjutant  becomes  the  reo-iniental  historian,  he  is 
forced  to  inti-odu<'e  himself  in  evidence  as  to  some  parts 
of  the  recoi'd.  aiul  must  therefore  be  pei'sonal  in  his 
statements,  or  else  employ  a  kind  of  cundjei'some  cir- 
cundoculioii  whi(di  is  always  more  oi'  less  a  literary 
offense. 

'  We  thei-el'ore  apologize  in  advance  for  any  apparent 
bi'each  of  delicacy  or  modesty  that  may  appeal- in  this 
narrative,  tlioiiiih  we  may  assure  the  reader  that  there 
are  many  personal  items  wliich  some  one  else  as  histor- 
ian probably  would  mention  that  we  shall  ])ass  in  silence. 
The  sincere  thanks  of  the  author  are  here  tendered 
to  several  members  of  our  regimental  association  for 
many  suggestions  offered  by  them,  for  several  incidents 
they  liave  furnished  which  had  escaped  either  theauthor's 
attention  or  memory,  and  especially  for  the  patience 
with  wliich  both  officers  and  men  have  borne  the  delay 
of  the  publication  of  l\n^  eventful  story  cd'  v>hat  their 
regimeiii  did  and  suffered. 

WAsiiiNciToN,  I).  C,  NoT('i>ibei\  189G. 


HISTORY 

OF  THE 

SIXTEENTH     REGIMENT,     NEW    HAMPSHIRE 
VOLUNTEERS. 

BY 

Adjutant,  Luther  Tracy  Tow^nsend. 


CHAPTER  I. 

NORTHERN   TROOPS  AT  DISADVANTAGE. 

TTTE  civil  and  ])()liti(':il  condition  of  onr  conntry,  just 
]i]-ioi-  to  tli<r'  War  of  the  Kel)ellion,  and  IIm*  causes 
tliat  led  to  that  contlict  or  ai-nis.  ali-eady  liiive 
l)e<^oine  sn(di  an  iini)ortant  paiT  of  oni-  nafional  liistory 
and  so  often  liave  been  (hNclt  ii})on  by  dilferent  ]<'iii- 
menlal  liistorians,  tliat  witli  tlie  exception  of  bi-ief  and 
incidental  allnsions,  we  sliall  pass  in  silence  all  sn(di 
,a;ene]'al  and  familial' mat  teis.  coidininii,-  attention  in  this 
volnme  (diielly  to  the  ()i'i;ani/at  ion  and  actnal  service  of 
our  iviiinient. 


10  iiisr(ti;v   (IF    riiK  sixtkextii  kegimext 

As  tlH>  object  is  not  to  iiinlve  a  ciniihersonie  voliiiue, 
hilt  one  tliat.  without  taking-  overiimrli  ol'  the  reader's 
time,  easily  can  ])e  read,  we  sliall  exclude  certain  other 
matters  which  are  found  in  many  histories  of  our  volun- 
teer regiments.  That  is,  instead  of  filling  the  body  of 
our  history  with  the  full  text  of  the  orders  that  were 
received  from  division  and  brigade  headquarters,  or 
even  with  the  full  text  of  the  orders  issued  from  our  oAvn 
regimental  headquarters,  which  of  themselves  almost 
would  hll  a  good-sized  volume,  we  simply  shall  note  in 
lu'ief  that  such  aiul  such  orders  were  received  and  obeyed. 

Duplicate  or  original  copies  of  all  orders  are  in  the 
state  or  the  national  archives,  and  can  be  consulted  if 
one  so  desires. 

There  is,  however,  one  somewhat  general  topic  that 
relates  to  the  poorly  jirepared  condition  of  the  North- 
ern troops  to  co])e  at  the  outset  with  those  of  the  South, 
Avhicli  is  so  involved  in  any  historical  treatment  of  our 
army  life  as  to  justify  emphatic  and  even  frequent  repe- 
tition. We,  therefore,  make  an  exception  to  the  special 
purpose  we  have  in  mind,  while  preparing  these  pages, 
and  in  this  opening  chapter  shall  call  attention  to  the 
reasons  wdiy  our  troo])s,  especially  during  the  eai'lier 
months  of  their  life  in  the  service,  not  infi-equently  ap- 
peared to  considerable  disadvantage.  AVe  make  this 
exception  all  the  more  readily  because  we  do  not  remem- 
ber to  have  seen  the  matter  ovei'-emi)hasized  in  any 
regimental  history  we  have  examined,  aiul  often  it  has 
not  l)een  tcuiclu^l  u})oii  at  all. 


NEW    IIAMI'SIIIUK    VOLT  XTKKKS.  13 

It  ]'e(}uires  only  tli<"  most  liasty  glance  at  tlic  half  cen- 
tni'V  pi-eceding  the  contiict  between  tlie  North  and  South 
to  enable  any  one  at  all  I'aniiliar  with  our  national  his- 
tory to  recoiiiiize  the  correctness  of  the  statement  that 
tile  X)eriod  from  18] 5  to  18(31,  excepting-  the  wai"  with. 
Mexico,  was  in  onr  repnblic  a  time  of  peace.  TIk'  [»eo- 
j»le  of  the  Northern  states,  with  few  excei)tions,  felt  the 
ntmost  security,  not  dreaming  that  a  civil  wai'  was  })os- 
sible.  He  who  at  the  North  then  talked  wai'  was  re- 
garded as  an  alarmist.  During  that  time,  therefore,  the 
military  spirit  of  the  fi-ee  states  was  allowed  to  slnnd)er. 

On  the  othei-  hainl,  especially  from  18:)(»  to  18()1, 
the  people  of  the  slave  states  were  prepai'ing  for  what 
seemed  to  them  a  ])()ssible,  if  not  a  ])robable,  conflict 
with  the  North  on  the  questions  of  slavery  and  state 
rights. 

Dnring  the  twelve  yea  is  immediately  preceding  the 
rebellion,  Jefferson  Davis  had  completely  in  hand  the 
military  affairs  of  onr  entire  country.  He  was  chair- 
man of  the  senate  committee  on  military  matters  from 
1849  to  1851.  He  was  secretary  of  war  from  1853  to 
1857.  He  was  again  chairman  of  the  senate  committee 
on  military  matters  fi-om  IS;")?  to  18()1.  During  those 
twelve  years,  Jeffei'son  Davis  was  busy,  vei'v  busy,  but 
not  in  the  interests  of  the  entii-e  republic. 

Tln'ough  his  scheming,  the  I'egular  ai'uiy  had  been 
ordered  to  distant  and  not  easily  accessible  jiai'ts  of  our 
country.  Indeed,  the  army  was  so  far  depleted  that  at 
the  breaki]ig  out  of  hostilities  there  were  scarcely  fen 
thousand  names  on  the  Ijiited  States  arm\'  lolls. 


14  IIISIOIIV    OF    THE    SIXTEKX1II     UEiil.MENT 

X;iv:il  in:itt(M-s  were  in  like  condition.  The  war-sliips 
of  the  icpiihlic  li:i(l  l)een  dispatched  to  distant  parts  of 
the  woi'ld.  Nortliern  foi'titications  liad  been  neii'lected 
and  disiiianth^l,  wliile  th(!se  in  tlie  Soutli  liad  l)een 
tlioidiiulil y  e(][Hij)|)ed.  ill  some  instances  witli  sii])])lies 
taken  fioni  Nortliern  foi'ts  and  ai'senals. 

By  Older  of  the  Avar  dejtartnient,  of  whitdi  M]-.  J)avis. 
as  \vf'  liave  said,  was  chief,  the  muskets  of  tlie  dis- 
Itandcd  militia  companies  of  tlie  Nortliern  states  were 
shipped  to  Washinuton.  and  thence  were  distril)nted 
throiiiihout  the  Southern  states.  The  author  will  l)e  par- 
doned foi-  introducing-  evidence  illustrative  of  these 
proceedings  \\'lii(di  came  to  his  ])ersonal  knowledi-'e. 

In  the  year  18o7,  a  milittiry  company,  of  which  he 
was  a  memhei',  was  orti-anized  l)y  the  students  of  Dart- 
nioiitli  ('olleii'e  (diiehy  for  the  purpose  of  exercise. 

In  the  colleue  at  that  time  were  several  Southern 
students.  AVhether  or  not  they  were  informers,  we  do 
not  know,  but  not  lona'  after  the  organization  of  our 
company,  there  came  a  United  States  government  order 
to  the  town  aut]u>rities  of  Hanover,  who  had  loaned  the 
muskets  of  its  disl)anded  military  company  to  the 
stu(b'nts.  to  ship  all  military  ecpiipments  in  town  with- 
out (b'la>'  to  Washington.  To  us  the  order  was  a  cause 
of  much  i-egi<'t.  A  communication  from  the  students 
was  sent  to  Washington,  giving  the  facts  and  requesting 
tiuit  thi'  iiiiisk(-ts  might  l)e  retained.  The  re])iy  came 
that  tliosc  alius  must  l)e  for\var(b'd  to  Wasliingtoii.  but 
tli;it  tlic  go\-ei'nment,  imniediat<dy,  would  send  to  the 
students     an     <'(|ual     number    of    improved    Springfield 


NEW     HAMl'SIIIin-:    VOLINTEKUS.  If) 

luiiskcts.  \V<'  \v<'i-<'  sntislitMl.  not  to  s:iy  delio'litcd.  We 
looked.  Wo  waited.  IJiit  we  liad  bcHii  deccivrd.  The 
iiii])i'ov(Ml  S])riii,iilitdd  muskets  ii<-vei-  reacdied  us,  and  the 
ohl  ones  with  whi(di  we  had  drilled  wer(^  not  aiiain  seen 
by  Northern  men  until  captured  from  (Jonfederate 
soldiei'S  onSouthern  soil. 

AVe  need  not  jH'oceed  further  in  this  review  of  what 
then  ap}»ea]'ed,  and  ai)i)<^ais  still,  to  be  Southern  ti-eason. 
Southern  tlieft.  Southern  deceit,  and  Southei-n  outi-a^-e, 
on  both  a  lai-,ue  and  small  scale.  The  recollection  of 
tiiese  thinus  makes  one  knit  the  brow,  tiiough  nearly 
foi'ty  yeai's  have  intervened. 

In  too  many  ways  foi-  us  on  these  pa.i^vs  to  recount, 
those  secedin.ii'  states,  duriun'  the  score  and  a  half  of 
years  designated,  were  playin.u'  their  pai-t  with  consum- 
mate skill,  while  we  at  the  North  were  aslee}).  They 
zealously  cultivated  what  is  termed  the  military  spirit  ; 
while  we  at  the  North  were  absorbed  with  business  and 
the  makinu"  of  money.  They  were  intending"  war.  if 
theii-  j)ui'poses  could  not  otherwise  be  accomplished, 
while  we,  stripped  of  military  defenses,  were  hugging 
the   silly  dtdusion    that   the   era    of  war  was  at  an   end. 

The  militai-y  oiganizations  of  the  South  were  under 
tlioi'ough  disci})line;  those  of  the  North,  with  few 
exce])tions,  were  in  most  (h^jdoi'able  condition.  They  of 
the  South  were  well  sui»i)lied  with  military  leaders,  and 
the  maj(uaty  of  th«'  West  Point  graduates  were  either  in 
Ihe  South  oi-  were  Confederate  symi^athizers.  while  we 
at  the  North  did  not  know  whi(di  way  to  turn  foi'skilh'd 
commaudei's.      President    Lincoln   was   once   aske(l    why 


10  HlS'i'oliY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KE(iI.^rENT 

he  ni)[)()iiit(Ml  such  civilians  as  (Teiierals  I^iith'r  and 
Banks  to  1(M(1  aniiy  coips.  His  reply  was,  that  he  was 
])erfectly  sure  of  the  ;[)ati'iotisui  oi'  tliose  men,  but  was 
not  sure  of  that  of  the  uieu  who  liad  l)een  schooled  in 
militai-y  nuitters  at  the  iiovernnient  expense  and  who  were 
then  lioldin,ii'  ai'niy  commissions. 

They  of  the  South  had  money  in  their  treasui'V  ;  ours 
had  been  pillaii'ed.  Their  })eo|)le  for  the  laru'er  ])art  wei'e 
united;  ours,  divided.  So  pronounced  at  the  North  was 
the  division  of  sentiment  as  to  slavery  and  the  riii'hts  of 
states  to  seced(\  that  Franklin  Pierce,  while  in  the 
presidential  chair,  said  ])ul)licly  that  if  l)]ood  flowed 
in  the  appi'oachinu'  conflict  it  would  l)e  in  Northern 
streets,  not  on  Southern  soil.  And  Jefferson  Davis, 
speaking  of  the  impendinu'  t]()ul)les,  assured  the  South- 
ern people  that  if  a  call  to  arms  were  issued  by  the  Fed- 
eral government  he  should  l)e  able  to  hold  in  tlie  palm 
of  his  hand  all  the  blood  that  would  be  shed. 

Those  leaders  in  the  secession  movement  thought  they 
had  the  Federal  government  and  the  people  of  the 
Northern  states  completely  in  their  grasp  ;  and  seem- 
ingly they  had.  They  were  confident.  When  firing 
opened  on  Fort  Sumter,  the  leaders  in  the  Confed- 
erate states  thought  that  the  ])eople  of  the  North  in- 
stantly would  l)e  paralyzed,  and  certainly  there  were 
many  sti'ong  reasons  to  inspire  this  conhdence  and 
expectation. 

But  that  att-ack,  like  a  thunderl)olt  from  a  clear  sky, 
startled  from  toipor  into  vigorousness  the  patriotic  spirit 
of  the  Ilepul)lic.     The  slumbering  heroism  of  the  North 


NEW   UA. MPS  nun-:  voli^xtp^eks.  17 

and  \\Vsr  was  aroused.  'Pliere  was  sojiietliiiiu-  like  a 
contiagration  of  i)atidotisni  and  lieroisni,  ending'  in  a 
fusion  of  the  diifeivnt  })oliti('a]  parties  and  the  coniini;- 
together  of  men  wlio  liad  l)e(^n  holding  and  defendinii' 
confiioting  opinions.  So  that  when  the  bugle-call 
sounded  over  the  land,  men  sto])pe(l  and  listenrd  ;  tlie 
])i'a ye]' was  (dosed  when  only  half  offered  ;  the  ])low  Avas 
nnhit(die(l  and  stoo<l  still  in  the  fui'row  ;  the  hamniei- 
lay  in  quiet  on  tlie  anvil  :  fhe  uianus('rii)t  of  the  author, 
though  nearing  its  concdusion,  was  folded  up  and  laid 
aside  ;  Sal)]iatli  religious  services  were  intei']iii)ted  and 
converted  into  war  meetings  ;  the  spirit  of  177()  was  the 
spirit  of  1S()1  and  '(52.  and  thei'e  Avas  organized  for  the 
])rotection  of  the  Vnion  an  army  of  as  l)rave  men  as  evei- 
faced  an  enemy,  but  who,  foi'  the  larger  part,  were 
utterly  ignoi-ant  of  military  science  and  service. 

Seventy-five  thousand  volunfeer  ti'oops  answered  with 
a  quick  resi)onse  the  hist  call  of  President  Lincoln. 
Other  calls  came  and  were  answered,  and  yet  the  dark- 
ness continued  to  deepen.  Month  after  month  passed, 
and  there  was  nothing  but  a  dismal  record  for  the 
Federal  troops. 

Nor  should  this  oc^casion  surprise,  for  ill  pre})are(l 
were  our  raw^  recruits  to  hght  a  thoroughly  discii)lined 
foe.  We  had  courage,  be  it  repeated,  but  no  skill  in 
warfare.  We  are  not  extravagant  in  saying  that  any 
one  of  our  Grand  Army  men  who  are  left  is  better  ])re- 
pared  to  command  companies,  and  even  regiments,  than 
were  scores  of  those  who,  after  the  hrst  call  for  volun- 
teer troops,  were  given  high  commissions. 


18  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

111  some  instances,  as  tlie  reader  may  recollect,  seru'eaiits 
of  police  forces  and  captains  of  tire-en.uine  and  liook  and 
ladder  companies  became  regimental  officers  on  tlie  sim- 
ple ground  that  they  knew  somewhat  of  marching  men 
in  companies.  Others  not  qualified  even  to  that  extent 
were  commissioned. 

Infantry  regiments  were  formed  and  huriied  to  the 
front,  in  which  were  men  who  up  to  the  time  of  enlist- 
ment, never  had  taken  sight  along  a  gun  barrel  ;  artillery 
comi)anies  were  formed  in  which  were  men  who  never 
had  taken  in  their  hands  a  cannon  ramrod  ;  cavalry 
companies  were  formed  in  which  Avere  men  who  never 
had  handled  a  sword  or  sat  astride  a  horse. 

These  inexperienced  men,  at  great  disadvantage,  at 
terrible  sacrilice,  and  on  the  held  of  battle  in  the  face  of 
a  trained,  determined,  and  desperate  foe,  had  to  learn 
the  arts  of  war.  Is  it  any  surprise,  therefore,  that  our 
troops  sometimes  appeared  to  disadvantage  ( 

And  moie  than  this  ;  scores  of  regiments  were  hurried 
to  the  front  well-nigh  foodless  and  shelterless.  Trans- 
l)()itation  was  frequently  inadequate.  The  ainiy  was 
often  in  one  place  while  its  ammunition  Avas  in  another. 
Inexperienced  commissaries  and  quartermasters  much  of 
the  time  were  bewildered,  knowing  next  to  nothing  of 
the  duties  devolved  upon  them.  The  brave  troops, 
meanwhile,  were  left  under  blistering  suns,  midst  drench- 
ing storms  and  piercing  winter  winds,  unprotected  and 
half  starving.  One  marvels  sometimes  that  a  solitary 
soldier  of  our  volunteer  troops  lived  to  be  mustered  out 
of  service. 


NEW     IlAMPSTriUE    VOLrNTEEIlS.  19 

And  duiiii,n'  nil  this  time  they  of  the  Soutli  were 
li,<>-hting  skilfully  and  desperately.  The  day  of  our 
victory  was,  therefore,  of  necessity  loni;'  delayed,  and 
for  months  onr  peoi)le  could  not  guess  which  way  tlie 
scales  would  tip. 

It  was  during  those  darkest  hours  of  the  wai",  Wic  sum- 
mer of  1802,  that  the  call  for  tlii'ee  hundi'ed  thousand 
volunteer  nine-months"'  men,  sounded  among  the  liillsol' 
New  England. 

The  romance  of  war  had  long  since  given  phice  to  its 
stern  realities.  The  si(d\.  wounded,  and  maimed  soldiers 
were  returning  to  their  homes,  and  the  stories  of  the 
hardships  they  had  endured  were  beginning  to  be  familiar 
as  household  words,  and  the  meaning  of  the  word  wcr 
was  coming  to  be  realized  in  its  fulness.  It  was  no 
longer  an  excursion  South  at  the  government  exi)ense, 
but  meant  possible,  if  not  probal)le,  death  from  bullet 
or  disease. 

Tlie  men  that  answered  this  almost  desi)airing  call  for 
volunteer  troops  did  so,  therefore,  wit  !i  a  fai-bettei'  inuh^i'- 
standingof  what  the  meaning  of  it  all  was  than  had  })een 
the  case  with  many  of  their  predecessors  at  the  time  of 
their  earlier  enlistnuMit. 

It  is  Avell  to  l)ear  in  miml  aJso  that  the  large  mnjority 
of  those  who  enter<Ml  the  sei'vice  in  obedience  to  this 
urgent  call  of  Pi-esidi'ut  Lincoln  wei-e  not  among  the 
surplus  of  our  poi)nlation,  but  wi^e  men  wlio  had 
homes,  were  engaged  in  the  various  industi-ial.  meidian- 
ical,  business,  and  [)i'oressional  occu]>ations  and,  th(n'e- 
fore,    at  gi'eat  personal  sacriiice   in  the    majoi'ily   of  in- 


20  JIISTOHY    OF    TUi:    SIXTEKXTII    KEGIMENT. 

staiicps.  [)laced  their  iiaiiies  on  the  rolls  of   our  patriotic 
and  volnnteer  army. 

There  can  be  no  qnestion.  therefore,  as  to  the  conrage 
and  patriotism  of  these  late  volnuteers.  But  the  trouble 
was  as  we  have  said,  that  as  to  every  branch  of  the 
service,  they  were  utterly  ignorant  of  the  most  imi)ort- 
ant  duties  lelating  to  military  life. 

This,  however,  also  must  be  said,  they  were  apt 
scholars  in  the  art  and  science  of  war,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  they  learned  to  do  anything  that  any  soldier 
on  earth  ever  did  on  the  held  of  battle  oi-  in  the  presence 
of  an  enemy. 

In  fact  our  youngest  men  ''grew  bronzed,  aged 
and  desperately  thonghtfuT'  as  the  months  went  on. 
Infantry  boys  who  at  hrst  slint  their  eyes  when  they 
l)ulled  the  trigger,  after  awhile  came  to  love  and  pet 
the  musket  as  if  it  were  ti  trusted  friend. 

Artillery  boys  who  at  hrst  more  than  (tnce  put  their 
fingers  in  their  ears  when  the  cannon  went  off,  after 
awhile  became  used  to  the  thunders  of  an  engagement, 
seized  the  ramrod,  sent  home  the  cartridge,  and  fiashed 
the  cannon  sooner  than  the  enemy  was  ready  for  it. 

And  cavalry  boys  who  in  their  eailier  engagements 
with  the  enemy  clung  with  botli  hands  to  keep  astride 
their  horses,  after  awhile  learned  to  ride  at  a  breakneck 
speed,  slashing  through  and  flanking  the  most  chivalric 
troops  of  which  the  Southern  army  could  boast. 

One  of  the  staff  officers  of  the  Confederate  A.  P.  Hill's 
celebrated  corps  recently  wrote  thus  as  to  his  recollec^ 
tions  of  the  last  few  months  of  the  war  :  — 


XKW     HAM  I'SIIIKF,    \(>F.rNTKKUS. 


21 


''The  closiiiii-  (lays  of  the  tei'ribh'  coiillicf  are  to  me  a 
chaos — a  memory  of  iiuiddy  roads,  of  sliort  rations,  of 
marcliiiiu'  and  lialtinu-  and  of  gettiiii;'  under  cover  of 
l)atteries  to  resist  the  desperate  rush  of  that  splendid 
corps  of  horsemen  in  blue  who  so  unexpectedly  assailed 
us  fi'om  all  sides/'  ^' 

Statesmen  and  sohliers  in  Europe  who  after  the 
Battle  of  Bull  Run  lost  all  faith  in  the  })ower  and 
disposition  of  Northei'ii  volunteers  to  tiulit,  at  lenii'th 
confessed  that  the  world  never  had  seen  better  fighting. 

The  Confederate  troo})s.  who  at  the  outset  despised  our 
mettle  and  laughed  at  our  awkwardness  on  the  lield,  at 
length  trembled  and  sometimes  ii^'d  when  they  saw  us 
coming. 

When  our  men  had  learned  the  arts  of  war  and  had 
confidence  in  their  leadei's.  when  they  I'ealized  th(^  perils 
tliat  threatened  the  imtional  existence,  and  Avhen  the 
resolution  to  conquer  or  to  die  had  l)ecome  supreme, 
then  we  were  a  niat(di  for  any  troops  that  ever  were 
drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  on  this  or  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Atlantic  ocean. 

And  these  pages  we  hope  may  worthily  commemoi'ate 
the  courage  and  patriotism  of  the  men  cd'  New  Ham pshire, 
who,  in  the  gloomiest  hours  of  the  i'el)ellion,  left  tlieii- 
homes  aiul  their  various  occupations  and  }ti'ofessions 
to  suffer  and  die  for  the  i)reservation  of  the  riiion. 
whose  ovei'throw  had  been  threatened. 


CHAPTER  II. 

ORGANIZATION  AND  DEPARTURE  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 


I.  ()K(iANIZ.\'l'I()X. 

01' Iv  })i-eliiiii]i;ii'y  cniiii)  life  wliile  at  Concord,  wliicli 
was  on  tliH  \)\n^  plains  noi-tli  of  tlie  city  on  the  east 
side  of  tlie  Men-iniac  river,  beii'an  al)out  tlie  niid- 
dleof  Octobei-  1S()2,  and  was  t'oi-  the  lai\ii'e]- part  nnevent- 
fnl.  The  reuiilar  company  and  battalion  drills,  dress 
l)arade,  u'liard  nionntinn',  and  policin.ii'  of  the  i;ro!inds, 
kept  on!'  men  occu])ied,  thonii'h  not  laboriously  so,  dnr- 
in,ii'  the  briii'ht  and  exhilaratin.ii,'  days  of  October  and 
early  Novend)e]-. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  November,  there  was  witnessed  by 
qnite  a  u'athei-inu'  of  citizens  and  soldiers  oin-  initial 
dress  })a]'a(le.  We  cei'tainly  did  not  disi^'race  ourselves, 
thong'h  there  weie  some  hit(dies  in  the  movements  of  the 
men,  ami  not  a  little  anxiety  and  nneasiness  on  the  part 
of  the  oflicei-s.  I)ut  the  day  came,  and  not  lon,u'  after, 
when  \\<'  had  no  hesitancy  in  a])i)ea]'in!j;-  on  di-ess  ])arade 
befoi'(^  any  class  oi'  number  of  Avitnesses,  and  soon  aftei- 
oiii-  ari-ival  in  Louisiana  no  regiment  at  dress  parade  was 
moi-e  highly  c()ni]dimented  by  the  staff  officers  of  Gen- 
eral Banks  than  ours. 


Ni;\v    iiA  ,M  psiii  i:k   vom  \tki<;i;s.  23 

\\'lii]('  nt  (N»ii('()i-(1,  Mi(^  I'cuiinent  lield  I'Piiiilnr  pinycr 
and  relig'ioiis  coiirci-ciicc  mt'ctiniis.  oi'iiaiii/.iMl  a  tcinpei-- 
ance  association,  lioiioiiii.ii'  tlie  adjutant  by  .uivina,-  it  his 
naiup  and  l)y  (d(M'tin,ii-  liini  its  tii'st  })i'esid<'nt.  'I'licse 
vai'ious  nieetinu's  \v<Me  continued  until  the  active  cani- 
l)ai,i>n  in  Ijouisiana  hi'ouulit  tlieni  to  a  (dose. 

As  an  illustiation  of  tlie  spirit  of  oui-  icuiiiient.  we 
gdve  an  incident  outside  tlie  i-outine  duties  of  tlie  eu- 
caiupnient  that  occui'i-<^d  while  we  were  at  Concoid.  A 
man  bearin,u'  the  name  Russell  ai)peared  anion,i;-  us, 
whose  genial  ways  an.d  smooth  words  won  the  conli- 
dence  of  some  of  oui-  l)oys,  and  also  their  money. 

He  w^as,  as  it  turned  (Uit,  a  professional  ;j,and)lei\  and 
Ixd'oi'e  his  ival  (diaracter  was  known,  had  ttiken  the  last 
dollar  at  a  uame  of  cards  from  at  least  one  of  oiir  hoys, 
wiio  afterward  "t(dd  on  him." 

The  evidence  was  so  con(dusi\'e  that  Kussell  \vas  seized 
and  idaced  asti'ide  a  stout  piiu'  rail  fioui  wlii(di  the 
i-ongh  bai'k  had  not  Ix^en  taken,  and  no  fewei-  than  thi'ee 
hundied  of  ou)'  men  cai'ried  him  to  (-oncord  and  de- 
]iv(^red  him  to  the  ])olice  authoiities  of  that  city.  While 
cj'ossinii'  the  hi-idge,  the  ci-y  was  raised,  ''Throw  him 
into  the  river."' 

A  movement  was  made  as  if  to  do  this.  His  i)assiou- 
ate  plea  for  life  ])etrayed  his  terror;  he  was  spai'ed  this 
baptism  and  soon  aftel■^vas  s»'t  at  liberty;  it  is  ^■ery 
doubtful  if  he  ever  after  attempted  to  ])ly  his  j»i'of<'ss:on 
amont;'  the  sturdy  ti'oojjs  (d"  New  Hampshire. 

We  should  not  be  faithful  to  the  ti'ue  historic  si)iiat. 
however,  were  we  to  leave  the  impression  that  all    the 


24 


lIIsroKV    (tl-      IllK    SIXTEENTH    REGI^IEXT 


members  of  our  regiment  were  saints  ;  for  there  were 
amono-  them  some  sinners. 

Those  unsanctitied  ones  begtm  even  wliile  at  Concord 
to  l)eti'ay  foraginu"  ])]•oi']i^•ities,  wliicli,  howevei".  served 
us  iiianx'  a  good  turn  afterwards  wlien  we  were  in  tlie 
enemy's  country.  Tliey  liad.  of  course,  no  justification 
for  indulging  these  aptitudes  wliile  they  were  still  on  the 
soil  of  New  Hampshire. 

A  tuikey  I'oost  was  visited  by  some  of  thosi^  had  boys 
and  the  stolen  tuikeys  were  bj-ouglit  into  camp  at  mid- 
night. 'Idu'  giiai'd  had  been  bought  u|)  and  it  was  ([uite 
impossible  for  the  ofhcers  to  discover  the  |)ej-petrators  of 
the  theft.  Tn  justice  to  all  (•oncerne(b  however,  it 
should  be  said  that  the  thieves  in  this  particular  instance 
wei-e  pi'ofessionals.,  Avho  had  enlisted  to  secure  the 
bounty  otfei'ed  by  cei-fain  towns,  and  who  deserted  l)e- 
foi-e  the  regiment  left  the  state. 

A  little  later  a  l>ai-rel  of  cider  was  stolen,  rolled  from 
no  snuiU  distance,  and  secreted  in  a  trench  dug  in  one  of 
the  tents,  and  then  covered  with  straw  and  an  army 
blanket.  By  what  means  the  boys  in  the  iieighboi'hood 
of  that  t<Mit  had  cidei'  twice  or  three  times  a  day,  was 
mo)v  than  the  innocent  ones  could  understand.  l)Ut  it 
goes  without  saying  that  tliose  i)ivliminary  thefts  were 
condemned  by  the  oflRcei-s  of  the  regiment  and  by  all 
oui'  nu'U  exceed  a  \'ej'y  few  who  shared  nuu'e  or  less  in 
the  plundei'. 

There  was  still  another  incident  of  note  while  at  (^)n- 
coi'd  wiiicli  illusti'ates  the  spii'it  of  oui-  men. 


N^^ii 


o 


o 

CO 

< 

o 
u 

> 

o 

UJ 

(« 

i- 


NKW     IIA  M  I'SimiK    \'<)MNTKKKS.  27 

Ovei-coats  Imd  been  issued  l)^!^)!-^  we  wei'e  iiiusf- 
ered  into  servicf.  'I'hey  l()(»k<_'(l  well  inid  wei-e  of 
darkei-  coloi-  rliaii  tlii'  oi'diiiary  army  bliK'.  lint  they 
proved  to  l)e  made  of  the  (dieapest  shoddy  i^oods  ;ind  on 
being;  wet  tlie  dye  stutf  used  in  coh)i'ini;'  them  stained 
every  tiling  it  toii(die(l.  It  was  afhi-med  ;ilmos[  umh^r 
oath,  certainly  with  the  oaths  of  some  of  the  boys,  that 
a  barrel  of  ink  couhl  be  made  from  each  oveiToat. 

This  attempted  inii)osition,  however,  miscariied,  for 
our  men  absolutely  refused  to  be  mustered  into  sei'vice 
until  there  was  an  exchange  of  overcoats.  The  governor 
of  the  state  ])le;i(hMi  with  the  men  not  to  lUiike  trouble; 
but  they  were  resolute  and  firm  as  the  hills  surrounding 
them.     A  few  days  later  the  exchange  was  made. 

The  judgment  may  seem  severe  but  was  fi'cely  ex- 
pressed that  the  manufacturers  of  those  goods  and  the 
ones  who  attenii)ted  to  palm  them  off  upon  the  govern- 
ment ought  to  have  been  court-martialed  and  shot. 

II.       DEPAETUKE. 

The  intensest  sufferings  during  our  civil  war  were  not 
on  the  field  of  battle,  but  in  the  home  circde  ;  not  amid 
the  rattle  of  musket]-y  and  boom  of  cannon,  but  in  noise- 
less heart  throbs,  when  the  gray-haired  fathei',  with 
choking  voice  said  to  his  son,  ''(_to,  my  ])recious  boy, 
and  God  V)less  you"  ;  when  the  devoted  niothei-  prayed 
and  wept  all  night  long  after  lier  son's  enlistment  ;  and 
when,  amid  farewell  words,  and  during  the  months  that 
followed,  wives,  and  young  women  who  liad  ]dedged 
tlieir  affections  to  their  lovers,  suffered  the  agony  of 
many  deaths. 


28  IIISTOKY    OF     rilE    SlXTEEXTII     KKcinrEXT 

111  consequence  of  tliese  distressiiiL;-  exi)ei'iences  there 
sank  into  the  lirave  i)reniatiirely  a  whole  generation  of 
those  who  saw  no  fipld  of  l)attle,  who  heard  no  re])()rt  of 
musket  or  cannon,  ))ut  who  remained,  in  tears,  witli 
achin,"-  hearts  and  sleepless  nights,  among  the  quiet 
hills  of  the  (Iranite  State. 

The  latter  part  of  the  week  beginning  Novem))er  fif- 
teenth was  a  season  of  increasing  activity  among  the 
members  of  our  regiment,  for  we  had  received  orders  to 
be  in  readiness  for  a  move  on  short  notice.  It  was  not 
ex])ect(^d.  however,  that  we  should  break  camp  before 
Monday  or  Tuesday  of  the  week  following.  But  late  on 
Saturday,  the  order  came  that  we  w^ere  to  take  our  de- 
parture the  next  morning. 

The  coloiKd  and  other  cliristian  officers  of  the  regi- 
ment had  })leaded  with  Governor  Berry  not  to  require 
us  to  make  our  first  move  on  Sunday.  He  did,  perhaps, 
all  in  his  power  to  comply  with  our  i-equest,  but  the 
railway  and  steamboat  arrangements  had  been  made,  and 
orders  from  the  Ignited  States   officers  were  imperative. 

AVe  may  also  note  that  several  of  our  men.  who  had 
been  furloughed  from  Saturday  until  Monday,  were  at 
the  railroad  station  or  weie  already  on  th»dr  way  home 
when  Ihe  order  to  move  reached  our  camp.  But  a  notifi- 
cation at  the  station  oi'  a  telegram  to  those  who  had 
gone  was  all  that  was  necessary  to  bring  back  our  men 
to  the  regimciil  :  tlieii'  furlouglis  did  not  keep  them  fi'om 
their  ])laces  in  the  ranks  an  hour  longer  than  was  abso- 
lute! V  necessai'X'. 


XKW    IIA  M  PSIiriM-:    \()F>rN1'EKKS.  29 

Sntiirdny  ni,uli(  was  cold,  and  (lu'i'e  was  a  sfoiiu  of 
sleet  and  snow  that  lasted  till  lu^ar  moniini;-.  It  was 
clear  by  sunrise,  however,  and  at  about  eiulit  o'clock  on 
Sunday  morninii',  November  twenty-third,  in  a  frosty 
atmosphere,  but  under  as  brilliant  a  New  England  sky 
as  one  could  wish  to  see,  the  Sixteenth  mar(died  in  four 
ranks  throui;h  the  main  street  of  Concoi'd.  At  the  i-ail- 
way  station  were  friends  fi'om  different  sections  of  the 
state  who  had  come  to  see  us  off. 

The  ranks  were  broken  for  a  few  minutes,  and  friend 
clasped  the  hand  of  friend,  and  hopes  were  mingled 
with  sad  ajiprehensions.  The  words  of  affection  and 
admonition,  and  the  farewells  then  spoken,  still  linger 
in  the  memory  of  the  few  who  siu'vive  to  recall  them. 

A  little  later  a  train  of  twenty  cars  moved  slowly  away 
with  its  freight  of  almost  a  thousand  loyal  hearts,  nearly 
half  of  whom,  in  life  and  health,  were  never  again  to  see 
their  native  state.  The  mental  and  heart  anguish  of 
that  morning,  in  its  fulness,  was  known  only  to  God, 
and  into  his  ears  on  that  day,  from  its  earliest  morning 
hour  to  the  hour  that  brought  the  day  to  its  close,  was 
poured  a  volume  of  pra^^er  such  as  only  burdened,  devout, 
and  loving  heai'ts  can  offer. 

The  ride  during  the  day  was  without  anything  of 
inteiest  woi-thy  of  note,  except  that  in  i)assing  tln'oiigh 
towns  and  cities  oui'  l)oys  w^ere  cheeied  and  signalled  by 
the  people  with  handkerchiefs  and  the  waving  of  hands. 
Such  I'esponses  wei'e  I'etui'Ued  as  aie  customary  under 
like    circumstances,    though,    if    the    truth  were  known, 


■^0  iiis'i'oin-   OF  TTiE  sixtp:extii   im:(;iment 

many  in  tlie  re,i;-inient  were  less  demonstrative  tlian  they 
would  have  been  on  some  other  day  of  I  lie  week. 

And  yet,  we  have  to  confess  that  on  tliar  day  there 
was  evidence  that  we  were  not  all  as  pions  or  as  strict 
Salihath  observers  as  we  nii_<;ht  have  been.  For,  during 
the  day.  one  of  our  men  captured  a  well-bred  spaniel 
dog  at  one  of  the  i-ailway  stations  and  carried  him  on  to 
New  York.  'I'he  owner  followed  on  the  next  train  and 
entered  coin})laint.  After  })r()ving  pr()[)erty,  the  dog 
was  restored  and  the  forager  was  severely  reprimanded  by 
the  colonel  for  laying  in  commissar}^  stores  on  Sunday 
and  before  we  were  out  of  Puritan  New  England. 

Our  route  was  over  the  Nashua  and  Worcester  rail- 
way to  Allyn's  Point,  where,  between  six  and  seven 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  regiment  left  the  train  and 
embarked  on  the  steamer  City  of  Bo.^to/i.  The  sail  on 
Long  Island  Sound  during  the  night  was  not  an  un- 
pleasant one,  but  there  were  many  heavy  hearts,  for  our 
men  were  beginning  to  realize,  some  of  them  keenly, 
that  every  hour  increased  the  distance  between  them  and 
scenes  and  faces  the  dearest  of  any  on  earth. 

Not  far  fi-om  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  November 
twentj-foui'th,  we  reached  the  dock  in  East  river,  New 
A'ork.  A  biting  northwest  wind  told  ns  plainly  enough 
that  we  w^ere  not  yet  in  the  suimy  south,  and  we  felt  that 
we  had  not  taken  with  us  the  comforts  of  our  New  Eng- 
land home  life. 

We  were  cared  for  during  the  early  })art  of  tlie  day  at 
the  Park  barracks,  and  at  four  o'clock  in  tlie  afternoon 
were  ordere;!  to  pitch  our  tents  in    Battery  Park.        The 


ONE   OF  THE   CONTRACTORS. 


NEW     HAM  I'SII  I  1;K    \ OLrXTKKlIS.  31 

\v«':itliei-  a  ]):iit  of  the  tiiiie  durino' (Mir  eiicaiiipnieiit  tliere 
was  pieiciuu-  cold,  and  oiii'  (dotli  tents,  with  Ix'ds  on  the 
uroiind,  the  heds  consistinu' of  l)nndle  st  raw,  aiVorded  a. 
protection  not  the  l)est,  as  one  easily  ean  iniai>-ine. 
Several  of  onr  men  in  conse(|nence  of  tliat  exposure  were 
made  sick  and  two  or  three  never  fully  recovered. 

Our  stay  in  the  city  of  New  York,  liowever,  was  not 
altoii'ether  devoid  of  comfort  and  interest.  Our  I'eo-iment 
was  nnicli  praised  by  the  people  of  the  city,  both  on  ac- 
count of  the  excellent  soldiery  bearing  of  the  men  and 
nioie  especially  for  their  uniform  good  behavior. 

Sometimes  the  boys  complained,  l)ut  not  without 
reason,  of  accommodations  and  especially  of  rations, 
thougli  on  the  whoh^  the  complaints  were  fewei'  than 
might  have  l)een  exi)ected.  The  most  pi-onounced  ex- 
pressions of  dissatisfaction  were  on  'riiaidvsgiving  day, 
November,  twenty-seventli.  Indeed,  it  seemed  for 
awhile  that  their  downright  and  indignant  protests  would 
end  in  open  revolt.  The  meat  was  miserable  in  quality 
and  poorly  cooked.  The  bread  was  heavy  and  sour, 
and  some  of  our  men,  who  had  known  from  earliest 
childhood  what  a  Thanksgiving  day's  dinner  meant  in 
New  England,  declared  in  no  suppressed  tones  that  they 
would  make  a  "niggei-"  and  Irish  sou})  of  the  cooks  if 
another  su(di  dinner  w^as  served. 

The  cooks,  perhaps,  were  not  altogether  to  l>lame. 
They  were  the  mercenary  contractors  to  whom  had  l)een 
let  out  the  provisioning  of  the  regiment,  and  Avhose  sole  or 
paramount  (object  seems  to  have  been  not  to  provide  for 
the  welfare  and  comfort  of  the  men  or  to  do  an  honest 


B2  IIISTOKV    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMEXT 

tliiiiii'  hy  tiiH  lioveriiment  but  to  make  as  nmcli  money  as 
they  could  out  of  tlieir  contracts,  who  were  blameworthy 
and  onulit  to  liave  been  imprisoned  and  ])ut  on  tlie  niis- 
ei'al)h'  fare  tliey  were  serving  to  us. 

The  yeomanry  of  New  Hampshire  as  well  as  other  men 
can  appreciate  good  usage  and  endure  l)ravely  hardships 
that  are  inevital)le,  ])ut  they  cannot  be  ])la.med  for  re- 
senting anything  like  imposition  or  ill  usage,  and  our 
men  never  hesitated  to  give  exp/ression  to  su(di  resent- 
ment, and  we  may  add  that  evidence  of  the  total  dejirav- 
ity  of  many  of  those  army  contractors  certainly  was  not 
wanting.  And  did  not  those  men  who  became  rich  through 
frauds  [)erpetrated  upon  the  government  at  the  expense 
and  suifering  of  men  who  were  sacrificing  everything  to 
save  the  nation,  merit  the  wrath  of  heaven? 

Saturday,  Noveml)er  twenty-ninth,  was  for  our 
regiment  a  gala  day.  The  sons  of  Xew  Hampshire  re- 
siding in  Xew  York  city,  gave  us  what  was  called  a 
Thanksgiving  dinner.  In  the  way  of  food  supplies  it 
was  all  that  the  name  indicates.  It  concluded,  as  such 
occasions  usually  do,  with  a  round  of  laudator}^  and 
pati'iotic  speech-making. 

We  may  add  that  more  than  once  during  our  stay  in 
New  Yolk,  fruit  and  proAisioiis  of  various  kinds  were 
sent  to  our  encam])ment  in  quantity  by  gentlemen  who 
had  gone  from  New  Hampshire  to  New  York  city,  and 
w  ho  in  consequence  were  kindly  disposed  and  naturally 
interested  in  our  welfai-e. 


CHAPTER    III. 


SEA    VOYAGE. 


AS  early  ns  Monday,  December  fourth,  orders  were 
received  to  eml)a]k  on  tlie  steamer.  Eastern 
Queen.  The  regiment  was  in  readiness  to  obey 
tlie  order.  Tlien  r(>lh)wed  counter  ordeis.  On  Tues(biy 
we  again  were  notitied  to  marcli  to  tlie  Eastern  Qitcen^ 
and  our  tents  were  struck.  Then  the  order  was  for 
the  second  time  countermanded. 

But  on  Thursday,  December  sixth,  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, in  the  midst  of  a  snow^  squall,  our  regiment  really 
was  on  its  way  to  the  steamer.  Seven  companies, 
counting  from  the  left,  embarked,  and,  except  for  the 
emi:>hatic  protest  of  our  officers,  the  other  tliree  com})an- 
ies  and  a  New  York  l^attery  besides  would  liave  been 
crowded  u})on  a  small  iinseawortliy  side-wheel  steamer, 
of  only  seven  hundred  tons  registei',  whi(di,  even  with  a 
much  smaller  freight,  was  in  no  way  lit  for  such  a  voy- 
age as  was  before  us. 

Friday,  December  seventh,  1862,  at  three  o'clock  in 
the  afternooon,  our  steamer  weighed  anchor,  and  slowly 
sailed,  as  we  su[)pos(^d,  for  our  destination.  But  when 
about   four  miles   from   her  last  anchorage,  mucii  to  Ihe 


84  IIIS'IOUY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH     KECilMENT 

siii'])ris('  of  all  and  tlie  aniioyaiice  of  some,  slie  was 
slowed  down  and  stoi)ped,  and  the  aiielior  was  cast  into 
tlie  sea.  'I'o  all  our  (Questions  put  to  the  officers  of  the 
steamer,  no  satisfactoi'v  explanation  was  given.  The 
i-eiiimental  officers  snp])osed,  liowever,  that  her  captain 
was  following  secret  orders.  But  we  had  reason  after- 
wards to  su})pose  that  the  su])erstitious  dread  common 
among  sailors  of  beginning  a  voyage  on  Fi'iday  had 
taken  ])()ssession  of  our  captain,  and  had  led  him  to 
defy  the  explicit  orders  that  had  been  given,  and,  in 
utter  disregard  of  any  disastrous  consequences  that 
might  result,  he  took  the  matter  of  sailing  int<,  his  own 
hands,  and  anchored  until  daylight  the  next  morning. 
At  least  no  denial  of  this  charge  ever  has  been  made 
and  no  other  explanation  though  repeatedly  asked  for 
ever  has  been  given. 

The  first  day  out  was  one  of  interest  to  some  of  our 
men  who  never  before  had  been  on  the  broad  Atlantic, 
whose  lives,  rather,  had  been  passed  among  the  peaceful 
and  beantiful  landscape  scenes  of  New  England. 

From  the  squalls  of  the  night  before,  the  Jersey  coast 
was  covered  with  patches  of  snow  that  to  us  were  not  an 
unfamiliar  sight.  Duiing  the  day,  too,  we  encountered 
several  snow  squalls,  as  if  AVinter  was  not  to  part 
company  with  her  Granite  State  boys  without  giving 
them,  as  reminders,  a  parting  salute  or  two. 

Vyy  afternoon  and  evening  of  this  first  day  out,  sea- 
sickness became  an  epidemic.  Poor  seasick  and  home- 
sick wi'(^tchesl  Thoughts  of  the  fii'eside  circle,  of  food 
])i'epare(l  by  the  hands  of  wives  and  mothers,  the  cliai-m 


LU 

< 

O 

o 


7L 

UJ 
UJ 


STAY    IIA^FPSIIMJE    V(  (LrNTEEUS.  37 

of    tilt'    (liiiiiiu--i'()(»m   table,   and   all  such   visions  iioated 
before  oiii'  iiiiiuls.  only  to  increase  our  misery. 

Nor  is  it  to  be  wondered  that  many  of  ns  felt  durinii; 
that  day  and  niii'ht  that  we  were  the  most  i^'uilty  crim- 
inals on  land  or  sea.  and  deserved  severe  punishment 
for  ever  liaving  com])lained  of  anythinu'  in  oui'  home  life, 
and  that  we  had  been  fools  and  idiots  for  enlisting  in 
the  army,  even  to  save  the  UnionI 

Seven  o'(dock,  Sunday  moiiiing.  the  sealed  orders 
were  broken.  There  had  been  nnniy  speculations  as  to 
the  destination  of  our  i-eo-iment.  Almost  every  i)]ace  on 
the  Southern  seaboard  htul  been  mentioned,  but  the 
orders  were  that  the  steamer  should  proceed  direct  to 
Sliip  Island,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  river,  unless 
it  became  necessary  to  recoal  at  Tortugas.  AVe  were 
thus  destined  to  be  taken  to  a  much  greater  distance 
from  home  than  had  ])een  expected  when  the  assignment 
of  our  regiment  Avas  made  to  the  Banks  exjiedition. 

This  news  added  a  fresli  gloom  to  the  already  accumu- 
lated woes  of  our  boys.  Sunday  and  Sunday  night  were 
al)out  as  dismal  as  cold,  biting  winds,  rolling  and  heavy 
seas,  downright  seasi(dvuess,  and  homesickness,  could 
make  them. 

On  waking  jSIonday  nH)iaiing,  it  was  discovered  that 
the  sun  was  rising  on  the  stai'board  side  of  tlie  steamei', 
instead  of  on  the  port,  where  it  should  be  shining  if  we 
were  sailing  south.  It  was  evident,  therefore,  that  for 
some  reason  the  coui'se  dui'ing  (he  night  had  l)e('n 
(dianged.  Explanations  followed,  and  we  learned  that 
under  the  pounding  of  heavy  seas  the  boat  had  spianig 


38  IIISTOKV    (IF    TIIK    SIXTEENTH    IIEGIMEXT 

ii  leak  ;  mid  quite  early  in  the  morning  the  ie})()rt  was 
circulated  that  she  was  tilling  three  times  as  fast  [is  she 
could  be  pumped,  and  that  the  water  was  already  nearly 
u])  to  tlie  furnace  hres. 

Those  i-eports  proved  to  be  yarns.  But  that  the 
steamer  was  disal)led  was  evident  enough,  for  she  listed 
badly,  and  lal)()red  heavily  and  at  times  perilously 
amidst  those  stormy  and  rough  seas  that  were  l)reaking 
upon  and  over  her. 

The  tacts  were,  that  tlu:"  strain  luid  loosened  the  ])lank- 
ing,  al)ove  the  waterdine  fortumitely,  and  at  ten  o'clock 
the  night  before  the  sheathing  of  the  guards  of  the 
paddle-wheel  and  some  of  the  paddles  on  the  starl)()ard 
side  had  been  snuished  into  hue  kindling.  The  steamer 
was,  therefore,  in  great  danger  of  having  the  wheel 
twisted  on  the  shaft  to  su(di  extent  as  to  prevent  its 
revolution,  or  else  l)r()ken  completely,  and  we  should 
then  have  been  left  helpless  and  at  the  mercy  of  the 
stormy  Atlantic.  In  this  condition  the  steamer  was 
JK^aded  fo]'  Forti'ess  Monroe,  about  forty  miles  iioilh  of 
the  point  she  had  reached  the  night  before. 

At  half-past  ten  o'clock  jNIonday  morning,  .T)ecend)er 
eighth,  we  cast  an(dior  neai'  Fortress  ^Monroe  and  repairs 
were  begun. 

This  was  for  us  a  l)riel'  and  gi-atel'ul  resi)ite  from  sea- 
sickness. No  one  of  the  regiuient,  howevei-,  was  allowed 
to  go  on  shore  or  even  to  speak  to  any  persons  \\ho  cauu^ 
neai"  in  boats,  oi-  to  send  lettei's  or  telegrams  to  anxious 
oiu's  at  home.  The  destination  of  the  Banks  expedition 
was  to  be  kept  a  profound  secret. 


NEW    HAM  I'SII  I  KE    VoLTXTEEUS. 


39 


And  Vd't,  soiiif  of  flic  sliip's  ci'eAV  wiio  went  (»ii  shore 
to  ,i2;et  help  and  luaterin  Is  I'oi'  r<^[):iii-s.  re])oi'te(l  tliaf  our 
destination  was  w(dl  known  even  to  the  woi-knien  at 
Fortress  jSIonroe.  'I'liis,  we  presume,  is  a  specimen  of 
the  way  army  seci-ets  at  that  time  wei'e  kept.  Anytliini;- 
known  in  tlie  city  of  Wasliington  Avas  said  to  be  known 
almost  the  same  (hiy  in  the  city  of  Kiclimon(k 

Tlie  di'ead  of  ])nttin,ii-  to  sea  a,i;'ain  was  keenly  fcU  by 
most  of  our  men.  and  not  a  few  de(dared  they  would 
,uladly  face  death  on  the  hehl  of  battle  or  aiiywhei-e 
else,  but  could  m»t  au'ain  endure  sea-si(dvness.  "'•  I  would 
ii-ive,"  said  a  poor  fellow,  while  lookinu' wistfully  at  tln^ 
bea(di,  "a  month's  ]>ay  foi-  a  handful  of  that  sand  to 
carry  along  with  me/' 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  iMonday,  Deceiubei'  eigldh. 
the  r(^])airs  wei'e  complet(Ml,  ami  our  miseiably  unlit 
craft  weighed  an(dioi'  and  again  headed  out  to  sea. 

On  thew\ay  do\\n  the  bay  we  met  the  steam  t)-ans])oi-t"s 
liolx'i'l  Morris  and  John  A.  Warren,  loaded  with  froo))S 
coming  into  ])o]"t,  f(»r  what  reason  we  did  not  know,  and 
as  our  exce])tionally  line  band  played  its  gi-eeting  to 
these  incoming  comi'ades,  (dieer  after  cheei'  in  a(d\no\\  1- 
edgment  I'ose  from  aboul"  three  thousand  thi-oats,  echo- 
ing far  over  the  watei\s  of  the  l)eautifu]  (diesa])eake 
bay. 

The  next  few  days  wer»'  pleasant,  with  a  constantly 
i-ising  teni])ei-atui'e  and  a  coini);ii'atively  smooth  sea. 

As  the  boys  under  those  fa\dra])l(^  coiiditions  began  to 
ini]»i-ove   in    health,    they  also   became   moi'e   and     nioi'c 


40  insTOUV    OF    THE    SIXTEEXTH    r.E(TlMEXT 

puiinacious.  As  a  result,  tliere  were  two  rel)el]ioiis  on 
the  same  day,  December  tenth. 

The  first  was  a  determination  on  the  part  of  several  of 
the  men  to  resist  tlie  i^-eneral  order  to  have  all  the 
soldiers  vaccinated.  Some  of  the  men  who  did  not  be- 
lieve in  vaccination  said  they  Avould  be  shot  first.  After 
awhile  this  insul^or<lination.  tlii'ouu'h  the  ])ersnasion  of 
the  regimental  officers,  came  to  an  end.  13ut  later,  a 
re})ort  l)eing  circulated  that  the  vaccine  viru.s  was  not 
pui-e,  some  of  the  men,  after  the  sui-geons  had  done  their 
woik.  actually  cut  and  dng  the  virus  out  of  their  arms 
with  their  jackdvuives. 

The  second  mutiny  was  in  consequence  of  the  [)oor 
rations  that  had  l)een  issued.  Vov  dinner  thaf  day  the 
men  were  served  with  pork  and  bi-ead.  For  sup})e]'  there 
was  doled  out  to  them  a  half-dii)per  of  coffee,  four 
spoonfuls  of  half-boiled  I'ice,  and  a  tal)le-sp()onful  of 
molasses.  Think  of  fhat  kind  of  fare  for  sicdv,  also  for 
convalescent  and  well  men  I  Some  of  the  boys  (ilmosf 
swore  that  they  would  make  an  attacdv  on  the  ship's 
st(»res  unless  they  were  l)etter  served.  This  rebell- 
ion was  so  pronounced  that  the  officers  of  the  boat, 
who  seemingly  were  trying  to  make  a  handsome  thing 
out  of  fheir  contract  to  su])ply  the  men,  became  alarmed 
and  asked  for  a  guard  to  dtd'end  the  stores  against  an 
attack. 

After  this  mutinous  denu)nstration,  the  l)oat,  as  might 
l)e  inferred,  attempted,  during  the  rest  of  the  voyage, 
no  further  imposition  and  nonsense  of  the  kind  that  had 
caused  the  troul)le. 


NKW     IIAMI'SMIIJK    NOMN'l'KKlJS.  41 

The  sense  of  justice  in  tli(^  men,  liowevei',  iiad  become 
so  outi'au'ed  tlint  tlicy  did  wlint  iiioi-e  lioiu^st  nieji  would 
not  have  done,  and  wluit  tli(\\'  tliemselves  would  not 
liave  done  l)ut  i'oi'  the  pi'ovocation;  tliat  is,  tliou^'li  the 
slii])'s  stoi'es  wer<'  under  uuai-d,  a  Iniri'el  of  extra  tine 
syru})  somehow  was  on  tap  aiul  was  used  freely  during' 
tlie  voya.ii'e.  Three  or  f(Mii-  of  tlie  men  found  tlie  f]-esh 
meat  hxdver  and  discovei'ed  a  way  into  it,  tip])ed  the  cooks 
of  tlu'  boat  wlio,  unbekno^^•n  to  the  officers  cooked  on  a 
single  day,  foi'  the  boys,  an  entire  hind  quai-fei-  of  fresh 
beef. 

And  this  was  not  all.  One  of  the  men  of  Company 
H,  feeling  that  tlie  sutlei'  was  taking  advantage  in  over 
(diarging  foi-  tobacco,  whi(di,  however,  was  ])robably  not 
the  case,  at  least,  wlien  the  doctrine  of  <duinces  and  I'isks 
is  taken  into  aci-ount,  renu»v(Ml  the  hinges  of  one  of  the 
(diests  of  the  sutler,  and  hlled  his  l)oot-legs  with  plugs 
of  navy  tol)acco  ;  after  that  every  m;in,  imduding  the 
guards,  who  wanted  a  (diew.  had  one. 

Tt  was  during  those  days  that  the  facility  with  whi(di 
New  Ilamijshire  men  can  tui-n  tlieii-  hand  to  vai'ious  un- 
dertakings, found  two  vei-y  (dever  ilfustrations.  ('ai)tain 
Sanlxu-n,  feeling  that  his  si(d\  men  needed  what  they 
w(ue  not  getting,  went  into  the  kitclien  of  the  steaniei' 
and  made  for  them  a  l)arrel  of  coi-n  meal  poiridge.  Cap- 
tain Ilersey,  not  to  be  outdone  l)y  Sanhorn,  nt^xt  took 
possession  of  the  kit(dien,  rolled  up  his  sleeves,  made 
and  fried  for  his  men  a  ban-el  oi'  more  of  d<uighnuts. 

It  was  at  that  time.  too.  that  the  boys  of  Company  K, 
who   largely  were   from    Tortsmouth,    being,   therefore, 


42  iiist<)i;y   of  the  sixteextii  uegimext 

soniewlint  fniiiilinr  witli  ^^eafarinii'  life,  and  Avitli  tlie 
yarns  of  sailors,  were  merciless  enong'li  to  tell  the  farmer 
boys  and  others  from  the  interior  of  the  state  the  most 
liarrowini;'  stories  of  shipwre(dvs,  of  hoats  sjuingino; 
leaks,  of  tempests.  West  India  tornadoes,  and  other 
perils  and  proii-nostications  that  had  some  u'rain  of  truth, 
l)ut  wei'e  told  out  of  pui-e  mis(diievousness.  Those  men 
of  Company  K  deserved  a  severe  reprimand,  but,  so  far 
as  we  I'ecollect,  they  never  received  it. 

At  eight  o'(d()(dv,  ^^a.turday  niornin*;',  December  four- 
teenth, we  passed  (^ape  Sable,  the  extreme  point  of 
Flori(hi  to  tlie  soutli,  and  a  few  hours  later  saw  the 
wreclv:  (d'  the  ^farion  Sdiifoid,  one  of  oui"  Heet  of  l)oats 
l)oun(b  as  we  were,  to  Sliip  Ishmd.  She  had  stru(dv  on 
tlie  reef  of  San  Key,  and  was  well  out  of  water.  .Vt  the 
time  we  })assed,  the  wreidvers  were  strip})ing  lier  of 
whatever  of  value  couhl  ])e  taken.  We  afterward 
learned  that  the  troops  tliat  sailed  on  Iku',  incduding  the 
Fifteenth  Xew  Hampshire  regiment,  wei-e  taken  off  in 
safety  and  foi-warded  by  othei-  ti'ansports. 

There  is  always  a  kind  of  ''mute  eloquence"  in  a 
wreck  like  this,  and  the  sight  of  tlie  ,sV//^/'o/y7  did  not 
tend  to  calm  our  fears,  and  cei-tainly  did  ru)t  iirspire  coii- 
tidence  that  we  oui'selves  Avere  out  of  danger,  though 
A\  (^  ^vere  in  tlie  (iulf  of  Mexico. 

Suuday,  Decendjer  fourteenth,  about  ten  o'clock  in  the 
forenooD,  we  were  jtiloted  thiough  a  ser})entine  passage 
to  Fort  JeflPerson,  on  Dry  Tortugas,  a  coral  island,  not 
far  from  the  Florida  coast,  which  Avas  used  during  the 
war  as    a   station   for   furnishing   supi)lies   of   coal   and 


xi:w    iiA  M  I'siiiiM-:   \(»Lr\ii:i;i;s.       .  /   4') 

naval  stoies  to  the  (Tiilf  squadron.  A  Viist  aiiKniiit  oT 
money  had  ])een  api)i-o[)iiated  by  Soutlieiii  iiiemheis  of 
congress  to  make  this  phice  impregnable,  tliough  wImmi 
we  were  there  everything  had  tlie  appearance  of  incoiii- 
pleteness,  except  tlie  clinnite  ;  tliat  seemed  niarvehnisly 
perfect.  It  was  like  summer.  The  shade- tiees,  cocoa, 
date  palm,  castor-oil,  and  othei'  trees  and  i)lants  weie  in 
their  leafage  and  fi'iiitage.  This  was  a  new  exi)erience 
for  most  of  us,  and  we  wondered  at  seeing  summer  in  tin' 
month  of  December. 

During  the  day  our  men  were  allowed  on  shore,  and 
not  a  few  of  them  i)atronized  the  sutler  of  that  ])ost,  and 
nearly  cleaned  him  out.  Tliere  were  some  things  not 
paid  for,  but  "drawn,"  a  mild  term  used  in  the  ai-my 
in  the  place  of  the  word  stealing.  This  came  about, 
howevei",  from  a  sense  of  New  England  justice.  The 
sutler  was  so  exorbitant  in  his  ])rices  that  some  the  boys, 
only  a  few  of  them,  howevei',  thought  they  might  even 
u[»  a  little,  and  then  he  wouhl  make,  as  they  re<dvoui'd. 
at  least  two  huudi-ed  i)er  cent,  profit  on  what  he  sold. 

Among  other  pr()])erty  taken  durinu'  this  wicked  i-aid 
on  the  sutler  was  a  liugh  cheese.  How  the  privates 
jnanaged  to  secure  it  was  not  genei-ally  repoi-ted,  though 
the  cheese  was  generously  distributed,  and  sonu'  of  the 
ofhcevs  were  remend)ered,  even  while  protesting  against 
such  acts  of  vandalism.  The  steamei-,  having  taken  her 
supi)ly  of  coal,  \\hi(di  was  put  on  board  by  the  wheel- 
barrow load,  headed  out  soon  after  daylight  into  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico.  The  day,  December  hfteeiith,  was 
everything  that  could  l)e  desired  ;   the  water  was  snioodi, 


44  UlS'I'ollY    OF    THE    SIXTKKXTII     in:(TniEXT 

the  sea-uulls  were  calling  or  scoldinf!;,  tlie  porpoises  were 
sportinu'.    and    the  whales    occasionally    were    spouting. 

The  night  following  was  the  same  in  qnietness  as  the 
day  liad  been.  There  weie  glowing  stars  in  the  sk}^  and 
the  surface  of  the  Gulf  was  luniinons  with  phosphores- 
cent animalcule?. 

"All  this  is  a  weatlier  lu'eeder,''  said  the  Portsmouth 
boys.  AVe  of  the  interior  winked  and  langhed.  The 
cry  of  wolf  had  been  heard  too  many  tinips  to  alai'm  us 
any  more. 

But  on  Tuesday  morning  eveiything  was  ugl}*.  We 
were  in  a  "norther''  on  the  Clulf  of  INfexico.  The  boat 
was  headed  towards  the  storm,  and  for  the  first  forty- 
eight  hours  we  nuide  a  distance  of  scarcely  a  mile.  For 
three  days  and  nights  we  were  in  what  the  apostle  Paul 
would  have  called  a  howling  euroclydon.  The  waves 
sevei'al  times  washed  the  decks  and  poured  volumes  of 
water  down  the  hatchways  befoi'e  they  wei'e  pr()|)erly 
closed  aiul  fastened.  The  sheathing  was  again  torn  from 
the  guai'ds,  the  boat  listed,  and  we  were,  for  a  second 
time,  in  imminent  danger  of  being  swamped  ;  and  there 
is  every  I'eason  to  sup])ose  we  should  have  been,  had  the 
boat  been  loaded  as  was  tirst  piojxised.  It  Avas  during 
those  tumultuous  hours  th.at  the  captain  used  the  men 
for  trimming  the  boat.  They  were  oi'dered  tii'st  to  oiu^ 
side,  then  to  the  otliei'.  After  awhile  they  became 
tired  of  this  sort  of  business  and  did  not  ies})ond,  as  the 
captain  thought,  with  l^ecoming  alaci'ity  to  his  oj-dei's, 
Avhereup(»n     he     quite    astonished     them    by    shouting. 


KKW     II  AM  I'SIIIUK    VOLTNTEKUS.  45 

"  AVell,  go  to  hell,  tlieii,  it  you  want  to  ;  1  iuive  as  many 
friends  there  as  you  have." 

Thursday  ni^iit  the  "northei''"  had  spent  its  fury, 
and  nine  o'cloclv  Fj-id;iy  niorninii,-  (fortunate  day  !)  a  low 
strip  of  laiul  was  discovered,  which  proved  to  be  Ship 
Island,  near  whi(dL  we  ancdiored  not  far  from  the  noon 
hour  of  the  same  day.  We  had  made  an  average  of  l)ut 
five  knots  an  hour  in  the  entire  distance  of  five  hundred 
miles  from  Tortugas  to  Shi])  Island. 

Here  was  our  expected  destination,  and  we  were  soon 
in  readiness  to  land.  But,  a  little  later,  orders  were 
received  to  sail  to  New  Orleans.  As  onr  stores  of  coal 
were  nearly  exhausted,  the  steamer  took  on  fresh  sup- 
plies, and  in  consequence  did  not  leave  Slii],)  Island 
until  evening. 

Early  the  next  morning,  having  taken  on  l)oard  dur- 
ing the  night  both  harbor  and  river  pilots,  we  were  over 
the  bar  and  sailing  quietly  up  the  river. 

The  lower  Mississij^pi  is  impressively  uninteresting, 
the  shores  on  either  side  are  low  and  boggy,  but  the  day 
will  come  when  those  lands,  raised  by  yearly  overflows, 
will  be  among  the  most  fertile  in  the  world. 

Soon  the  flags  of  Foi't  Jackson  and  Fort  St.  Philii),  on 
op[)osite  sides  of  the  river,  came  in  view.  A  gun  from 
Fort  Jackson  bicjught  us  to,  and  a  boat  came  ahjngside 
to  I'eceive  our  rt^poit.  Those  forts  are  the  key  to  New 
Orleans,  and  aie  the  scene  of  Farragut's  si)hMidid  naval 
hght,  the  recollection  of  whicdi  was  an  ins]iiial  ion  to  us, 
and  it  was  a  comfort  to  feel  that  the  grand  ohi  cotuman- 
der  was  on  the  river  al)ove  us. 


46  iiisroKv  OF  THE  sixtkextii  kecument 

The  partly  water-covered  wi-eck  of  tlie  Federal  gunboat 
Verona  received  our  cheers  aud  rightly  so,  for  after 
having  sunk  several  Confederate  boats  she  was  rnn 
ashore  in  a  disabled  condition,  tliough  still  Hying  the 
stars  and  stripes,  and  tiring  her  last  gnn  jnst  as  her  deck 
sank  below  the  water. 

A  little  further  np  the  river  the  smoke-stack  and 
franiewoj-k  of  the  wrecked  Confederate  steamboat,  Oov- 
entor  Moore,  were  passed.  We  did  not  sneer  or  hiss, 
but  had  I'espect  for  the  courage  displayed  during  that 
celebrated  tiglit  by  her  officei's  and  men. 

The  o})inion  on  recalling  all  the  facts  seems  not  extrava- 
gant that  the  silencing  of  those  forts,  the  destruction  of 
the  Confederate  fleet  and  the  captuie  of  New  Orleans  by 
Fari'agut,  and  the  subsequent  complete  snbjugation  of 
that  city  l)y  (leneral  Butler  were  among  the  most  bril- 
liant achievemeiits  either  by  land  or  sea,  of  the  entii'e 
War  of  the  Rebellion. 

As  we  continued  onr  conrse  np  the  river  the  scenes 
became  more  and  more  interesting,  at  least  more  and 
more  novel  to  our  men.  The  soft  Sonthern  sky,  the 
mild  temperature,  tlie  rich  plantations  with  their  orange 
and  leuion  groves  laden  with  fruit,  the  fragrance  of 
which  tilled  the  air,  were  in  su(di  contrast  with  the  dis- 
tressing experience  of  the  voyage,  the  seasickness,  the 
stived  and  um'omfortal)le  quarters,  and  the  ten  hundred 
and  oiK:'  bad  odoi's  of  the  steamer,  that  some  of  our  l)oys 
thought  we  were  not  far  from  the  gateways  of  Paradise. 

\Vitliin  sight  of  the  liglits  of  the  city  of  New  Oi'leans. 
after  a  day  pacdved  with  intei'est,  December  nineteenth, 


NEW      11  A.M  I'SUIKE     Vt)Lr>;TEKKS.  47 

the  anchor  of  iIm'  Kashrii  Queen  was  c:ist  for  the  in',<>h(. 
Not  many  oi'  thi'  iiicii  fiom  Merrimaclv  coiiiity  evrr  can 
forget  tlie  emotions  that  came  to  tliem  as  tlicir  eyes 
rested  upon  the  hirge  steamer  Kai r><(i njc  aiiclioi'cil  near 
by,  for  some  of  lier  timbers  were  said  to  liave  been  cut 
on  tlic  iiioiintain  bearing  that  name,  umler  whos(^  sha(b)\\'' 
tliose  men  had  passed  their  boyhood  and  young  manliood. 

As  we  stood  on  the  (b^ck  of  our  steamei-  and  bxtked 
uj)on  the  city  of  ISVw  Orleans,  tlie  tlioughts  of  l)oth  the 
past  and  the  fntui-e  that  most  vividly  came  to  mind  were 
of  tlie  bi'illiant  hght,  just  below  the  city,  between  (b'U- 
ei'al  Ja<'kson  and  Sir  Edward  Pa(dvenham,  in  the  \\ wv  of 
1812,  and  also  of  the  tights  in  which  we  ex})e('ted  to  be 
engaged,  within  how  few  days  we  did  not  know. 

In  that  tiglit  iindei'  .lackson  the  metal  of  the  American 
soldier  shows  to  such  advantage  that  Ave  shall  be  par- 
doned for  |)ausing  in  our  nari'ative  king  enough  to  recall 
a  few  of  the  leading  facts  of  that  famous  battle. 

General  (Sir  Edward)  Packenham  at  (he  time  held 
possession  of  the  river  and  the  territory  just  b(dow  New 
Orleans.  He  had  under  his  command  twelve  thousand 
veteran  soldiers  and  four  thousand  well  trained  mai'ines 
and  sailors.  To  meet  this  force  (Tcneral  Jackson  had 
l)ut  live  thousand  troo])s,  only  one  thousand  of  whom 
were  regulars.  With  the  ex('e])tion  of  that  one  thous- 
and, liis  men  were  undisciplined,  having  Ixm'U  biought 
together  hurriedly  from  I'eunessee,  Mississi])])b  aud 
Louisiana.  On  the  morning  of  the  hght.  .laiiuai  y  <'ighl  h, 
ISIT),  they  were   posted  l)ehiud    a    bj-eastwoik  of  cotton- 


4s  lIlsrolIY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    IlEGIMENT 

bags  and  eaiTh,  tliiown    up   hastily  on   learning   oi'   the 
enemy' s  apin'oach. 

It  was  early  in  the  morning  when  tliose  twelve  thous- 
and l)r()nzed  and  thoroughly  drilled  British  troops,  fresh 
from  their  recent  victories  in  Spain,  where  they  had 
been  led  by  Sir  Arthur  Wellesley,  afterwards  Duke  and 
Lord  Wellington,  were  seen  advancing,  "with  solid  step 
and  measured  pace,"  against  those  raw  reci'uits,  com- 
manded by  Jackson.  "Their  compact  and  pei-fect 
squares,  faultless  in  their  alignment  as  on  dress  parade, 
extending  far  away,  right  and  left,  in  columns  of  regi- 
ments, their  arms  glistening  in  the  sunlight,  and  the 
scarlet  of  England,  the  green  of  Erin,  and  the  x>l^id  of 
Scotland  commingling,"  were  said  by  an  eyewitness  to 
have  l)een  "superldy  magnihcent.''"' 

The  Americans,  being  insufficiently  armed,  some  of 
them  without  uniform,  others  from  the  penitentiary, 
released  on  condition  that  they  would  fight  that  day, 
were  ordered  by  Jackson  to  form  in  two  ranks.  The 
lirst  rank  was  to  do  the  firing,  and  the  second,  the 
loa  ding- 
As  the  enemy  di'ew  near  our  lines  Jackson's  men  were 
perfectly  cool  ;  they  took  deliberate  aim  ;  each  one 
covered  his  man  with  his  deadly  musket,  reserving  his 
tire  till  the  foe  was  in  easy  lange.  The  critical  moment 
came.  The  enemy  \\as  abont  to  tire  and  then  charge. 
At  that  instant  the  command,  "Eire!""  was  given  by 
Jackson:  and  when  tlie  smoke  cleared,  the  s])ace  in 
front  of  the  parapet  and  cotton  bags  was  covered  with 
heaps   of    the   enemy's    dead    and   dying.      The    British 


NEW      IIA  M  I'SIII  1;K    \<)1JXTEEUS.  49 

leader,  T^ackenliani,  fell  at  the  first  tire,  and  was  cairied 
from  the  held,  mortally  wounded. 

The  troops  were  again  rallied  l)y  (renei-al  (xibbs,  and 
advanced,  but  he  was  killed  by  those  deadly  niail\siuen 
I'loni  the  West  and  Soutli.  The  next  in  ronnnaiid,  (len- 
eral  Keane,  w^as  likewise  killed. 

A  fourth  general,  Lambert,  then  took  command,  but, 
after  several  ineffectual  attempts  to  rally  his  iMen,  a 
retreat  was  ordered,  and  those  haughty  l)attali()ns,  that 
never  before  had  met  such  disaster,  and  who  e'asily  had 
coiupiered  the  famous  legions  led  by  Soult  on  the  IN'uin- 
siihi,  now  tied  before  those  undrilled  Americans,  from 
the  liehl  whifdi  tliey  thought  and  said  was  to  l)e  a 
liigliway  for  their  triumphant  march  upon  the  ''booty 
and  beauty"  of  NeAv  Orleans. 

Two  f  liousand  of  tlie  British  were  killed  and  wounded, 
accoiding  to  the  historian,  I>.  B.  Scott,  though  I'.dward 
Eggleston  estimates  the  British  loss  at  twenty-six  hun- 
dred, and  the  American  loss  at  only  eight  killed  and 
thii'teen  wounded. 

Such  was  the  famous  Battle  of  New  Orleans.  And 
the  thought  that  came  to  us  was  that  the  descendants  of 
the  men  who  gained  that  bi'illiant  victoi'v  ai-e  the  men 
^\holu  we  ^vere  to  meet  within  ten  days,  i)erhai)s,  on  the 
li.dd  of  battle. 

And  what  may  be  expected  when  men  fi-om  New  Eng- 
himb  the  descendants  of  those  who  met  the  tiowei'  of 
the  liritisli  army  under  ({eueial  (xage  at  (.oncord,  Ijcx- 
ingt(»n,  and  i'nnker  Hill,  shall  meet  in  battle  tin'  sons  of 
those  men  who   nndei'  (Jeneral    .lackson   seutdeatliand 


.)()  lllS'ldKY    OF    THE    SIXTKKXTII     UK(iIMi:XT 

defeat  into  the  ranks  of  those  wlio  were  regarded  as 
among  the  best  soldiers  of  the  world.  It  will  he  as  of 
old,  Ureek  meeting  Greek  ! 

Returning  to  the  narrative,  we  find,  on  consulting  our 
journal,  that  it  was  nearly  noon  Saturday,  the  day  fol- 
lowing our  airival  at  New  Orleans,  before  we  could  get 
word  from  the  authorities  what  disposition  was  to  be 
made  of  our  regiment.  No  one  seemed  to  know  who  we 
were  or  where  we  came  from,  or  what  to  do  with  us. 

At  length  an  order  came  to  move  up  the  river  to  Car- 
rollton,  a  place  about  six  miles  above  New  Orleans,  and 
there  select  a  camp  ground  for  ourselves.  This  was 
done,  and  the  colonel,  quartermaster,  and  adjutant,  pro- 
ceeded to  obe}^  orders.  The  grounds  were  selected  and 
we  wei'e  on  the  point  of  landing,  when  the  order  that 
had  l)een  given  was  countermanded,  and  we  were  told  to 
go  up  the  river  two  miles  further  to  the  Beauregard 
parapet,  whicdi  had  been  thrown  up  under  the  direction 
of  General  Beauregard,  as  a  defense  of  New  Orleans. 

This,  too,  was  done,  and  there,  in  mid-afternoon,  we 
disembarked,  all  being  thoroughly  glad  once  more  to  set 
foot  on  what  was  supposed  to  be  solid  ground,  though 
several  of  our  men  faihMl  to  understand  what  the  trouble 
was,  and  declared  that  the  whole  state  of  Louisiana 
when  they  walked  reeled  like  a  drunken  man,  and  that 
when  they  stepped  the  ground  rose  to  meet  tlieir  feet. 

The  bad  ))oys  of  Com})any  K,  who  were  well  ac(iuainted 
with  "sea,  leg''  experiences,  came  into  ])]()ininence 
again  and  exi)lained  to  those  who  were  inexperienced, 
that  Louisiana  was  formed  soniethin";  like  the  so-called 


NKW   nA.Mrsiiii;E   noj.intekks. 


51 


floating  islands  of  Mexico,  and  ihut  the  waves  of  the 
Gulf  l)ein,L;,'  forced  np  nndei'  the  soil,  caused  the  undula- 
tions. This  explanntion,  liowevei',  cari'ied  no  weiulit. 
Indeed,  the  l)oys  of  C^)nii)any  K  were  no  loiigei'  beli(netl 
even  when  they  tohl  the  truth. 

We  should  l)e  r(Mniss  if  we  did  not  spenk  a  woi'd  ;it 
this  point  in  praise  of  the  aged  government  ])ih)t  who 
navigated  our  nnseaworthy  crnft  from  New  Yoik  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi.  He  had  but  one  eye,  yet  he 
could  see  with  tliat  many  times  as  far  as  the  most  of  us 
could  Avith  two.  ])uring  l):id  weather  he  never  left  the 
pilot  house,  and  wliile  we  were  in  the  "noi'ther"  on  the 
(riilf  that  faithful  man  was  foi- seventy-live  honrs  with- 
out closing  his  <//(,  and  he  stood  at  the  wlieel  until  his 
feet  wei'e  so  swollen  that  neither  boots  noi'  shoes  could 
be  woi'U.  Dead  oi'  aliNc,  he  has  our  thanks  and  this  ex- 
pression of  our  a|)})reciation. 


CHAPTER    IV. 


CAMP   'LIFK   IN    CARROLLTON. 

DK( 'EMBER  Twentietli,  al)()iit  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  tlie  boys  began  pitcliing  their  tents. 
Fences  and  tiinl)ers  from  deserted  negro  hnts 
were  borrowed  (V)  for  fuel  and  for  tent  floors.  Head- 
quarters were  i)rovided  in  a  deserted  plantation  house, 
snrronnded  with  shade  and  fruit  trees. 

The  next  day,  December  twenty-first,  was  also  a 
bnsy  one,  as  we  were  arranging  everything  for  comfort 
as  far  as  possible,  bnilding  cook-houses  and  setting- 
things  to  rights.  Few  realized  that  it  was  Sunday  until 
late  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  regiment  was  called  to- 
gether to  listen  to  a  seruiou  by  the  chaplain,  the  first 
we  had  heard  since  leaving  Concord.  The  sermon  was 
api)roi)riate  and  well  received,  as  were  all  the  sermons 
of  our  scholarly  and  thonghtful  chaplain. 

Here  at  Carrollton  were  flocks  of  singing  l)irds,  frag- 
rance of  orange  and  lemon  trees,  lieautiful  cultivated 
and  wild  flowers,  and  green  grass  plots  instead  of  bare, 
leafless  trees  aud  snow-di'ifts;  and  yet  more  tlian  one  in 
our  regiment  said,  "Oh,  for  the  quiet  of  a  New  Eugland 
Sabbath!"      "But  for  ns,"  as  a  writing  in  our  journal 


NKW     IIA  M  I'SIl  I  KK    VOMX'I'EKUS.  58 

says.  "  tlu'i-c  is  to  be  no  S:il)l):i!li  until  New  1mii;1;iii(1  is 
renclied  :i,t;':iiii,  ;iii(l  1)y  many  of  us  New  Englundlms  been 
seen  for  tlie  last  time." 

Here  in  ('arrollton  began  oui'  deatli-roll.  Lient.  Pres- 
cott  Jones,  Company  E,  was  the  iirst  to  answer  tlie 
snmmons.  lie  was  a  brave-liearted  and  zealous  soldier, 
greatly  beloved  in  his  ('omi)any  and  by  all  in  the 
regiment  who  had  made  his  actiuaintance.  lie  died 
January  eleventh. 

Here,  too,  at  Carrollton  we  l)egan  to  breathe  a 
poisoned  atnios]diere,  and  our  food  for  the  most  i)art 
was  })oor  in  (ptality  and  ponrly  cooked,  i)i'oving  an  ir- 
ritant and  poison  to  some  of  the  men,  who,  having  keen 
appetites  after  the  sea  voyage,  over-ate,  notwithstand- 
ing the  uiditness  of  the  rations  issued. 

A  Northeiai  man  in  a  Southeiai  climate,  among  those 
swamps  wliei'e  the  geians  of  fever  and  ague,  of  dysentery, 
and  of  the  whole  l)i-ood  of  malarial  ills,  poison  tlie  air, 
should  not  only  fear  that  he  is  going  to  l)e  sick,  but 
should  feel  that  he  is  sick  uidil  acclimated.  Oui'  men 
did  not  realize  tliis,  and  onr  Northern  surgeons,  who 
knew  nothing,  or  l)nt  little,  of  ti-opieal  and  swain[»  dis- 
eases, did  not  warn  us,  or  if  they  did  in  a  general  way, 
we  gave  no  heed  to  their  admonitions.  Hence  onr  men 
hourly  l)ecnme  victims  of  various  forms  of  disease. 

Our  mustei'-j'oll,  December  thirty  iirst,  shows  that  one 
man  in  every  seven  of  our  regiment  encamp<'d  at  Car- 
I'ollton  was  on  the  sick  list. 


54  TITSTOIIY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

AVe  now  return  to  the  three  companies,  C,  D,  and  F, 
tliat  had  been  left  in  New  York,  witli  Major  Davis  in 
command. 

On  the  same  day  tliat  the  re.niment  sailed,  these  three 
com])anies  were  removed  to  the  Franklin  Street  barracks, 
whei'e  the  accomodations  were  none  too  good,  and  the 
rations  very  unsatisfactory.  Two  Aveeks  later  these 
companies  were  ordered  to  embark  on  the  ocean  steam- 
sli i  p  3Itss  iss  ip2)  i. 

The  orders  reached  Major  J)avis  in  the  early  evening. 
The  companies  were  quickly  in  readiness,  and  the 
lightei',  with  the  men  un  board,  was  alongside  the 
steamer  at  alK)nt  eleven  o'clock  at  night.  All  the  gang- 
ways, however,  were  closed,  the  Avinds  were  howling, 
and  the  thermometer  was  at  nearly  zero.  There  stood 
tliose  shivering,  homeless  vagabonds,  for  such  they 
seemed,  trying  at  tliat  nearly  midnight  hour  to  get  the 
attention  of  some  ofhcer  on  board  tlie  3Iississip2:>i . 

Our  men  had  been  ordered  there,  but  the  officers  of 
the  ship  knew  nothing  of  any  such  orders,  and  had 
been  notified  that  their  ship  already  had  its  full  com- 
pletement  of  trooi)S.  The  captain  of  the  steamsliij)  was 
merciful,  however,  and  allowed  our  men  to  go  on  board 
out  of  the  l)iting  cold. 

Tlie  Forty-seventh  Massachusetts  and  the  One  Hun- 
dred Seventy-fifth  New  York  were  already  in  jjos- 
session,  and  had  availed  themselves  of  the  best 
accommodations  they  could  lind.  as  most  certainly  under 
similar  circumstances,  we  should  have  done.  Our  men 
bent  upon  securing  the  next  best,  if  they  could  not  have 


NEW    IIAMPSIIIKE    \(»LrNTEEKS.  55 

tlic  lii'st  choice,  took  possession  of  I  he  saloon,  but,  as 
this  was  contrary  to  tlie  I'ules  oj'  tlie  ship,  they  were 
obliged  to  give  up  those  accomniodations,  and  eacli  man 
hunked  as  best  he  could,  and  tlius  passed  tlic  remainder 
of  the  night. 

After  tliat  ex])erience,  however,  which  was  one  of 
decided  discomfort,  arrangements  were  made  that  proved 
on  tlie  whole  very  satisfactory. 

The  voyage  of  the  Dfi.ss/ssippi  with  the  exce2)tion  of 
being  overhauled  by  what  was  thought  at  hrst  to  be  a 
Confederate  cruiser  ])ut  afterwai'd  proved  to  be  a  Fedeial 
gunboat,  was  almost  confinuously  pleasant,  therefore 
unevent  ful  and  without  i)eril.  Tliose  three  companies 
joined  the  regiment,  .Janutn'y  hrst,  18(58,  amid  hearty 
cheers,  together  with  other  friendly  greetings  and  con- 
gratulations such  as  befir  a  reunion  of  that  kind. 

From  that  date  to  neai'  the  close  of  Jannai^y  our  camp 
life  was  a  b'.isy  one,  l)ut  not  i)arti<nilariy  laborious. 
Daily  di-ills.  fi'e(pienl  regimental  ]-evie\vs  and  insjx^c- 
tions,  dress  pai-ades,  guard  mounti/igs,  guai'd  and  })icket 
duties,  and  target  pi'actice  occn])ied  the  time,  but  we 
have  to  add  that  aft(^r  a  week  or  more,  the  days  dragged. 
Uur  men  wanted  to  hght,  end  the  war,  and  return  to  their 
homes. 

Jauuai'v  thii-d,  there  was  a  regimental  drill  undei'  the 
eyes  of  Gen.  T.W.  ^liei-man.  lie  complimented  the  move- 
ments of  the  regiment  in  tiattei'ing  terms.  Subsecpiently 
simihu'  comj)liments  wei'e  ])aid  us  l)y  (Jen.  (Jeoige  L. 
Andrews,  in  whose  bidgade  we  served  for  a  time. 


.50  HI8TOKY    OP^    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

January  twenty-tliird  we  received  wliat  are  called 
"heavy  marching  orders,"  and  with  the  other  regiments 
of  the  brigade,  under  Colonel  Ingraham,  marched  a  few 
miles  out  on  the  famous  shell  road  to  Lake  Pontchar- 
train.  This  active  campaign  was,  however,  a  short  one 
for  we  retui-ned  to  camp  in  early  evening,  where  we 
were  made  almost  wild  by  rei)orts  that  the  Mississii)})! 
]-iver  had  l)een  opened,  that  Vicksbui'g  and  Port  Hudson 
had  fallen. 

But  later,  like  many  other  camp  rumoi's  tliat  (uiginate 
no  one  knows  liow  or  where,  this  one  was  found  to  have 
not  the  slightest  foundation  ;  still  it  had  given  us  a  bit 
of  cheer,  and  we  continued  to  ho])e  during  th;^  next  few 
days  that  there  might  be  a  grain  of  truth  in  what  we 
had  heard,  or  that  it  might  be  a  prophecy  of  what  was 
to  hapx)en. 

Under  date  of  January  twenty-tifth,  the  journal  of  the 
adjutant  reads  thus:  "Our  men  continue  to  sicken,  and 
are  destitute  of  proper  hospital  conveniences  and  care. 
Our  imi)i'ovised  hospital  is,  to  be  sure,  a  commodious 
plantation  house,  but  as  yet  the  sick  have  under  them 
only  a  rubber  blanket  and  the  bare  lloor,  with  an  army 
blanket  for  their  covei'iug.  Each  room  in  flu^  hospital 
has  from  eight  to  twelve  iiatieuts.  Colonel  Pike  and 
the  ward  master  aie  both  down  with  fever.  Lieutenant 
Purnham,  Lieutenant  Wilkins,  Captain  Boswortli  are 
also  very  sick,  and  seventy  or  more  of  our  m*^n  are  in 
the  hospital.'' 

Frequently  our  three  surg<M)ns  were  sick  and  olf  duty, 

and  our  regimental  hospital  was  left  in  cai'e  of  the   hos- 


00  IIIS'l'OKY    OF    TH1-:    SIXTKKNTII    I'vEGIMP^XT 

brave  and  skillful  officer  was  able  to  hold  his  ground 
without  reinforcements. 

Sevei'al  reasons,  uj)  to  this  date,  had  been  assigned  wliy 
our  I'egiment  had  not  been  ordered  to  the  front.  We 
need  not  specify  what  they  were  but  nia^'  be  aHowed  to 
say  tliat  it  was  no  fault  in  the  makeup  of  the  regiment 
for  both  Generals  Sherman  and  Phnory  had  made  to  (len- 
eral  Banks  essentially  the  same  report,  namely,  that 
"  the  Sixteenth  New  Hami)shire  \'olunteers  htid  the  ma- 
terial for  a  bertei-  regiment  than  ever  step])ed  on  Louisi- 
an:i  soil  from  the  North." 

We  thiidv  the  com])liment  ]iaid  ns  by  Slieiana'n  and 
Emory  was  a  little  extravagant,  I'or  the  Fifteenth  regi- 
ment so  far  as  we  could  see.  had  essentially  the  same 
matei'ial  as  constituted  oui'  regiuient,  and  if  we  had  as 
good  hghting  material  as  was  every  day  seen  to  be  in  the 
Eighth  New  Ham})shire.  we  ought  to  have  been  satisfied. 
Howevei',  we  were  ])roud  of  the  u'ood  ojunion  these  su- 
])erioi'  officers  had  of  our  regiment. 

.lanuai'y  twenty-eighth,  we  were  ordered  to  uiove  l)ack 
to  Carrollton.  and  to  encaiu})  on  the  ground  that  had 
been  occupied  by  the  Fifteenth  regiment  of  our  own 
state,  and  that  regiuient  was  ordei-edto  take  our  [)osition 
at  the  pai'apet.  All  that  there  sei'uied  to  l)e  to  this  move 
wa.s  an  ex(diange  of  places.  After  beginning  to  pitch 
our  tents,  the  oi'der  was  countermanded,  and  another 
was  issued  that  we  should  move  towards  the  parapet 
one  mile. 

The  day  following,  the  men  were  busy  putting  in 
oi-der  their  tents,  preparing    kindling-wood,    and   build- 


NKW    riA  M  I'siii  i;k  \'<)i,c  x'I'kkks.  61 

iiiii' coolv-lioiises.        \\'li<^re    t  hey  Ixn-i'owcd  tlicir    luinlicr 
w.Ms  a  iiiyst<M-y  then  and  is  so  still,  hut  tlicij  knew. 

We  always  i-cciMxcd  orib^'s.  oji  i-eatdiiiii^-  new  cainiiiiiLi- 
Ui'oiiiids.  not  to  dt-stroy  or  use  any  private  i)r(»i)ei-ty. 
But  the  orders,  sti'ani;e  as  it  may  seem,  llioiii;li  passinu' 
tlii'on.u'li  tlie  adjiitaid's  tent,  did  not  often  ]-ea(d!  the  men 
till  all  misidiief  bad  been  done. 

( )c('asionally  t  lie  oi'dei-  would  read.  "  Oidy  the  top  I'ail 
is  to  be  taken  fiom  the  fences."'  I  snally  thei(-  wei'<'li\e 
rails  in  a  plantation  fence.  After  tlie  t<>i)  rail  had  l)een 
remo^•ed  four  were  bd't.  'IMk^  fourth  was  then  the  to}) 
rail,  and  could  be  taken  l)y  the  next  man  without  dis- 
obeyinii'  orders.  In  this  way  fences  frequently  lost  theii' 
to])  rails  until  only  the  l)ott<un  ones  remained,  and  even 
those,  especially  durinii'  the  (dosing'  days  of  an  encaiiiii 
nient,  sometimes  Avere  taken  ajid  sometimes  left,  as  <'ir- 
cumstances  and  flic  needs  of  the  re<;-iinent  s:M'intM|  to 
require. 

AVhat  sense  was  thei-e.  anyway,  in  ])rotectin,ii'  ;i  hick- 
oi'y  I'ail  fence  btdoniiinu'  to  a  Confederate  ^•('mMal.  when 
the  comfort  and  health  of  oui'  men  wei'e  im[H'rih'd  '.  Wt^ 
soiiietimes  buiu'ed  foi'  a  retuiii  of  the  (biys  of  (general 
P)iitler.  wdio(b^cided  that  evei'y thim;' uetMb-d,  e\-en  slaves, 
were  contral)and  of  wai'. 

To  tliose  wdio  WHi'c  ac(piainted  witli  the  im^!!  of  our 
reuiment.  wehai(ll\'  need  say  that  \\hile  the  pi-cliniin- 
ary  thefts  to  A\hich  w  c  ha\("  i-eferi'cd,  th(»sc  at  Concord, 
those  on  l)oard  the  steamer,  and  those  at  'i'oi'tuLi'as,  were 
never  approved  by  the  oflicei's  of  the  regiment  or  l)y  the 
maioi'itN'  of   oui'    men,  vet  when  we  reached  the  enem\'s 


62  iriSTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEEXTII    KEdnFEXT 

country,  our  officers  wirlioul"  exce})tioii  liatl  iio  couscieii- 
tious  scruples  as  to  t"orn,L>-i]i,n-,  and  under  cover  of  inter- 
national military  law  the  offic^^rs  helped  the  boys 
whenever  they  conld,  and  we  scarcely  need  add  were 
willing  at  anytime  to  share  in  their  plunder.  And  still, 
from  a  poor  and  destitute  Southern  family  we  never 
knowingly  allowed  anything  to  be  taken  without  giving 
full  compensation. 

The  (demency  shown  the  Confederates  hy  General 
Banks,  we  are  forced  to  say,  gained  nothing  for  the  I'nion 
cause,  and  his  })olicy  before  the  campaign  ended  was 
largely  modilied. 

International  law  declares  that  an  army,  when  in  a 
hostile  country,  may  even  save  its  own  commissary 
stores,  and  live  on  what  it  can  forage.  This  law  seems 
to  have  been  better  understood,  or  at  least  better  recog- 
nized by  our  ])rivates  than  by  some  of  the  officers  who 
commanded  them. 

We  are  not  able  to  say  how  many  classical  scholai's 
there  were  in  our  regiment,  but  many  of  the  men,  so  far 
as  foraging  is  concerned,  knew  perfectly  well  how  to  in- 
terpret and  ap})ly  practically  the  saying  of  the  ancient 
Romans,  "  l/ifcr  a rma  leges  silent," — in  time  of  war  tlie 
laws  are  silent,  or  as  sometimes  translated,  take  a  rest. 

It  appeared,  however,  during  our  encampmeiit  at 
Carrollton  that  foraging  was  not  the  only  accomplish- 
ment of  the  men  of  the  Sixteenth.  Indeed  its  mendiers 
could  turn  their  hand  to  almost  anything  in  the  mechan- 
ical arts.  They  could  build  railways,  rej)air  bioken 
cars,  take  in    ])ieces  and    \)\[t   together   loconu»tives   and 


NEW     II  AM  I'SIII  KK    \  OHXTKKUS.  6o 

then  if  required  could  luan  tlie  train  with  a  full  ('()Ui})le- 
ment  of  enijineers,  conductors  and  brakemen. 

If  an  encanipnient  continued  in  one  ])lace  for  several 
days,  tliere  were  those  wlio  built  ovens  and  l)aked  fresh 
bread.  Others  set  uj)  l)ai-1)er  shops,  and  re])aii'ed 
watches.  Tn  fact,  as  already  said,  we  could  do  anything 
and  everything  at  the  outset  exce})t  to  tight  according  to 
the  rules  of  war.  All  this  civil  birsiness  could  be  be- 
gun and  carried  on  within  live  minutes  after  oui'  tents 
were  pitched.  We  had  in  our  regiment  a  dentist,  a 
gunsmith,  and  a  cobbler,  who  had  with  them  theii-  kits 
of  tools  and  were  ju'epared  on  short  notice  to  engage  in 
their  several  callings. 

One  easily  can  believe  if  the  men  of  our  own  and 
other  Xew  England  regiments  as  well,  were  thrown  into 
the  enemy's  territory  and  were  told  to  shift  for  them- 
selves that  in  fewer  than  ten  days  they  would  establish 
an  independent  commonwealth.  All  quartermasters, 
commissaries,  and  sutlers  could  be  dismissed  and  a 
thoroughly  equipped  community  speedily  would  be 
organized. 

Better  than  this:  give  the  boys  an  easy  chance  and  in 
less  than  forty-eight  hours  tliey  would  \\nv(^  slaughter- 
houses, provision  and  urocei-y  stores  in  full  oi)eration. 
and  fresh  l)eef,  veal,  pork,  })oultry,  eggs  and  milk  for  sale, 
while  the  men  assigned  for  "  light  duty,"  owing  to  partial 
disability,  would  be  making  buttei'  and  (dieese. 

An  instance  that  is  almost  ]»athetic  in  some  of  its  de- 
tails is  illusti'ative  of  what  we  are  saying.  'IMielirst 
private    to   die  at    ( *airollton  w;is  a  mend)er  of  Oonii)any 


66  nrsToRY  of  the  sixtkextji  kegimext 

J).  'I'liere  was  IK)  coffin,  or  box  even,  in  wliicli  to  biii'y 
liini.  Xoi'  was  there  any  lumber  except  unplaned  fence 
boards.  His  comrades  could  not  endure  the  tliou.uiit  of 
an  interment  without  a  coffin.  Two  men  of  liis  conii)any, 
who  weie  carpenters,  l)orrowed  a  saw  and  lianimer  of  a 
negro,  wliiidi  he  of  course  liad  stolen,  took  in  pieces  a 
black  walnut  Avardrobe  tliey  had  found  in  one  of  the 
deserted  houses  nearb}"  and  made  a  coffin  that  would 
have  done  no  discredit  to  any  undertaker's  warehouse 
anywhere  in  the  states,  and  in  rliis  the  dead  private 
was  decently  buried. 

February  second  was  tlic  da;e  of  our  tii'st  division 
drill  under  (len^'ral  Emory,  and  certainly  our  I'egiment 
in  both  ajjpearance  and  movement  was  nor  inferior  to 
any  otlier  in  tlie  division.  Ours  at  that  time  was  ranked 
among  the  tighting  regiuients  and  we  were  in  readiness 
for  any  move  that  might  be  ordered. 

While  still  encamped  at  Carrollton  oui-  assistant  sur- 
geon, Sylvester  Cam})bell,  was  the  second  of  our  com- 
missioned officers  to  die.  He  was  a  (diristian  gentleman 
in  the  truest  sense,  and  a  skilled  pliysician.  His  death 
was  a  great  shock  to  those  of  us  who  knew  him  l)est. 

Prom  that  date  on.  deaths  in  oui'  ivginient  were  of 
su(di  fi-('(pient  occnri-ence  that  we  cannot  take  time 
to  enumeM-atp  them  se])ai-at^dy  as  they  occurred,  but  men- 
tion will  be  made  of  them  in  the  (dosing  pages  of  our 
liisloi'y.  We  may  mak*-*  an  exception,  however,  in  the 
case  of  JjiiMit.  ({eorge  'i\  Wilds,  of  Company  K,  who  died 
A[)i'il  twenti<'th.  A  truei-  })ati'iot.  a  more  faithful  friend, 
and  a  more  devout   (diristian   could    not  be  found  in  our 


THINKING   OF    HOME. 


XKW    II  AM  I'STIIIM-:   voltxtekuf;.  69 

or  any  other  reiiiiiieiit.  His  death  cast  a  .ulooiu  over  liis 
eiitii'e  ('oin]iaii\'  and  ovci-  all  the  officers  of  the  regiment. 

As  already  sui;\uesled.  this  soi't  of  caiii])aiuiiiii,u-  in 
which  we  were  eiiu'a.ii'ed  :it  (-ai'rolltoii  was  not  only  nn- 
satisfactory.  bnt  to  an  (^xtent  deiiioralizlni:'.  Debilitated 
by  the  (diniate,  and  half  si(dv  from  pool'  foofl  and  ex})os- 
nre,  some  of  oni-  men  l)ecame  despondent. 

Othei'S,  tired  of  the  merely  mechanical  ronnd  of 
dnties,  began  to  think  too  mncdi.  They  saw  imaginai-y 
perils,  greater,  perhaps,  than  ever  wonld  come  to  them 
on  the  fiehl  of  battle. 

Home  and  fi'iends  became  idealized,  and  in  conse- 
(pieiKM^  homesickness  was  on  the  increase.  I'nless  soon 
called  into  active  service,  the  (hmger  was  that  the  conr^ 
age  of  onr  men  wonld  l)e  less  than  when  they  left  home, 
and  less  than  that  of  those  who  had  nothing  comi)ara- 
tively  at  stake,  as  we  had. 

And  it  were  better,  too,  if  onr  men  liad  enlisted  for 
the  war,  for  there  were  tlu)se,  only  a  few,  who  already 
were  counting  the  months  and  weeks  that  remained  to 
complete  the  time  of  their  enlistment. 

All  the  more  w^ere  they  tliinking  these  nnpatiiotic  and 
iinsoldierly  thoughts  because  nothing  aggressive  was 
doing.  The  ex[)iessions  were  freely  indulged,  that  if 
we  \\ei-e  to  move  against  the  enemy  at  all,  it  slionld  be 
Ixd'oi'e  the  heat  became  nior(^  opjnessive,  and  befoi'e 
(b'alh  made  any  further  inroads  upon  oui'  ranks. 

Such  wei'e  the  closing  days  of  our  encampment  in  this 
ninhirial    region,    which,    beginning    in     DecendxU',    ex- 


IIIS|()i:V    (IF     rilK    SIX'IKEXTH    rtEcil.MKX'l 


tended  tliioiiuli  the  wet  and  disagreeable  months  of 
Jantiai  y  and  Febrnai  y. 

Tlie  accompanying';  sketch  will  aid  the  reader  in 
getting  a  clearer  idea  of  this  encam})ment. 

There  were  occasional  changes  in  the  positions  of  the 
regiments,  and  at  one  time  or  another  the  Thirty-first 
Massachusetts,  the  Fifty-third  Massachusetts  and  the 
One  llundi'ed  Seventy-fifth  New  York  were  encami)ed 
near  ns. 

As  will  l)e  seen,  we  w^ere  snrronnded  by  water, 
sw^amps,  and  low  land.  This  low  and  wet  plain  was 
ditched  in  every  direction,  and  the  surface  of  the  Missis- 
sipi)i  was  from  ten  to  fourteen  feet  above  the  ground  of 
our  encampment.  Thei'e  was  a  liability  during  our  stay 
there  of  a  break  in  the  levees  which  would  have  deluged 
the  Hats  and  have  made  of  them  boating  ])onds  and 
hikes  rather  than  paiade  grounds.  Contrabands  w^ere 
kept  constantly  busy  with  their  handbarrows  fighting 
this    dangerous  enemy. 


NE6RO    ENC^T 


MISSISSIPPI   RIVER 


?-^  <o^ 


CHAPTER    V. 


FIRST  ADVANCE  ON   PORT   HUDSON. 

OUR  I'Hoinieiit  liad  l)een  in  Louisiana  since  the  last 
of  Deceml)er,  1802  ;  the  month  of  March,  186:^,  was 
nj)on  us  and  we  had  not  yet  seen  an  armed  Confed- 
erate soldiei'.  nor  were  we  eqni[)ped  to  meet  the  enemy 
liad  lie  a]»])eared.  We  were  still  carrying  the  old  nnis- 
knts  that  were  brouuht  with  ns  from  Concord,  caliber 
sixty-nine. 

The  adjutant,  who,  in  addition  to  other  dnties,  re- 
cently had  been  made,  by  a  general  order,  ordnance- 
officer  of  the  regiment,  was  brought  into  more  than  one 
controversy  with  superior  staff  officers  on  the  question 
whether  we  were  to  be  sent  to  the  front  with  those  out-of- 
date  and  cumbersome  arms.  The  adjutant  voicing  the 
feelings  of  our  officers  and  men,  protested  and  apx^ealed 
in  vain  to  the  ordnance  depai'tiuent.  and  at  last  broke 
through  all  i-ed  ta})e  and  made  a  personal  visit  to 
(xeneral  Emory,  who,  quite  to  the  adjutant's  suri)rise, 
received  him  giaciously. 

This  ap])eal  apparently  accomplished  its  purpose,  and 
oui'  reuiment  a  few  days  later  was  i>i-ovided  with  \ery 
good  muskets,  some  of  them  having  a  caliber  of  tifty- 
seven,  othei-s  lil'ty-eight. 


74  IIIS'IOKY     OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEOIMENT 

Oil  tlie  luorniiig  of  March  liftli,  we  were  under  orders 
(^o  move  quickl}^  but  as  iisnal  were  kept  waiting  all  day 
and  until  eleven  o'clock  at  night  before  the  order  to  fall 
into  line  reached  us. 

The  remainder  of  the  night  was  i)assed  in  moving  our- 
selves and  what  stores  we  had  fr(»ni  our  encampmtMit  to 
the  transi)()rt  General  BanliS. 

Before  this  work  was  completed  the  rain  was  pouring 
ill  torrents.  Ammunition,  camp  equippage,  forage,  and 
luml)er  were  hurried,  almost  thrown,  on  board  in  dire 
and  sickening  confusion  amid  the  thunder  and  light- 
ning. There  were  further  delays,  and  not  until  past 
ten  o'clock  the  next  day  did  the  steamer  head  up  the 
rivei',  to  what  place  no  one  on  l)oard  excejjt  the  officers 
of  the  boat  knew. 

Twelve  hours,  later,  the  boat,  owing  to  a  dense  fog, 
tied  II [)  for  the  night,  and  our  regiment  detailed  pickets 
to  patrol  and  guard  the  shore  against  a  possible  attack. 
The  fog  lifted  in  the  early  morning,  March  seventh.  Our 
pickets  shortly  after  were  called  in,  and  we  had  for  the 
larger  part  a  comfortable  and  pleasant  dny  on  the 
Mississijipi. 

Our  transport  reached  Baton  Kouge  at  dark,  and  we 
received  orders  to  be  in  i-e.idiness  to  disembark  at  a 
moment's  notice.  The  order  that  next  reached  us  was 
not  to  disembark  at  that  iioint.  Itut  a  mile  or  more  down 
the  I'iver.  The  trans])oit  (lro])))ed  down  to  the  phice 
desigmi  te(l,  wIkm'c  we  disend);irked  and  bivouacked. 

The  one  who  gave  this  ordei'  eilher  could  not  have 
known  where   he  was   sendinu'   us   or  (dse   he  must  have 


NKW     HAM  I'SII  I  1;K    \  (tUN'I'KKlIS.  7i) 

intended  iiariu,  I'or  \t  wns  ;i  villainous  s})()t,  aswaiii]), 
indeed,  with  so  nin(di  iindei-brnsli,  rotten  wood,  and 
decayed  ve,ii-etal)le  matter,  tliat  early  in  the  day  tlie  boys 
very  a[)]tro])i-iately  named  the  place  "Camp  Diiiiuhill/' 
]t  was  a  sort  of  ont})ost,  beyond  any  lines  previously 
occupied  by  onr  forces,  and  was  sni)posed  to  be  in  close 
proximity  to  tlie  enemy's  pledgets. 

The  first  night  there  we  sle[)t  without  ti'uts,  under  an 
open  sky,  on  soft  beds  of  mud  and  swamp  ,<;'i'ass,  with 
onl^y  our  blank(4s  foi-  })rotection,  and  mos(piitoes,  wood 
ticks,  lizards,  and  snakes  foi'  companions. 

On  tlu'  next  moi-ninii,-,  the  ninth,  about  dayliu'lit  we 
ri'ceiv(^d  orders  to  provide  ourselves  with  three  daj^s' 
i-atioiis,  which,  however,  was  no  very  easy  thing  to  do, 
and  a  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition.  Forty  rounds 
were  placed  in  tlu-  cartridge  boxes,  wdii(di  was  their  full 
capacity,  and  the  rest  was  distributed  in  haversacks, 
pockets,  and  knai)sacks.  This  seemed  to  ns  then,  and 
seems  to  ns  still,  an  unnecessary  and  a  merciless  order; 
wdiy  load  our  men  down  with  this  w^eight  of  ammunition 
when  tliere  were  plenty  of  mules  in  the  de])artment  ? 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  also  that  eacli  soldiei',  in 
addition  to  I'ations  aiul  ammunition,  had  his  canteen  of 
watei',  his  i>lat<\  dippci'.  knife,  foi'k.  and  spoon,  his 
towel,  soa[).  woolen  and  rubber  blaidvets,  overcoat,  gun, 
and  othei'  accoutrements  to  cai'ry. 

Al  tlic  houi'  designated  we  were  in  i-eadiness  to  move, 
but  as  befoi'e  there  were  vexatious  delays.  W'e  ^vaite(l 
all  day  for  more  specilic  orders,  and  in  the  evening 
recpi\(Ml  word  that  ])i'obal)ly  w(-  should    not    mai'cli    until 


7b  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEHIMENT 

tlie  next  iiioniiiiii'.  The  nioniiiii;  dawned  amid  a  lieavy 
lain,  showeis  coiitinuinii-  all  the  day,  and  still,  tliongli 
nn])r(»tected,  we  were  kejjt  waitinii,'.  AVe  ])i'esnnie  that 
no  soldier  will  dispute  tlie  statement  that  delays  like 
these  amid  many  discomfortnres,  wear  men  out  faster 
than  vigorons  movements,  even  into  the  heart  of  the 
enemy's  country. 

The  night  of  the  tenth  was  passed  like  the  night  before. 
Another  day  came  and  went  as  had  the  others,  under 
orders  to  mar(di,  but  still  no  marching  and  no  suital)le 
protection  against  our  uncomfortable  exposures. 

The  morning  of  the  twelfth  found  us  still  on  the  ground 
of  our  niiseral)le  encampment  in  readiness  to  march,  and 
still  we  were  kept  until  hve  o'clock  of  the  afternoon  of 
the  next  day  before  any  definite  order  to  move  reached 
us.  It  then  came  in  this  form, — ''You  will  march  in 
ten  minutes."'  AVe  immediately  formed  in  line,  but 
waited  until  dark  before  any  move  was  made. 

Is  it  surprising,  after  these  repeated  experiences,  that 
our  men  began  to  have  their  confidence  shaken  in  the 
executive  ability  of  our  superior  officers,  or  in  the 
thorough  organization  of  our  army  corps?  Nothing 
ever  seemed  to  be  done  at  the  time  designated.  And 
thus  early  in  our  exx)erience  we  reached  the  unmilitary 
conclusion  that  an  order  to  move  to-day  meant  to-morrow 
oi  the  day  after. 

Much  to  our  relief,  and  after  tlie  stai's  were  out,  on  the 
evening  of  the  thirteenth,  we  found  ourselves  in  motion 
for  Hoimnrlicrc,  and  that  inJuri  ap]>eared  to  Ix^  a  matter 
of  supreme  indifference. 


NKW     II  A  M  I'SIII  1;K    VoUNTEKUS. 


77 


'I'lie  iiKircli  was  lii'st  t  lii'()ii,i;'li  I'atoii  Rouge  and  then  on 
for  six  miles  from  tliar  city  towai'ds  I^oi't  Hudson,  wliei-e 
we  pitched  our  slielter  tents,  tui-nini:,'  in  al)()Ut  midnigiil . 

During  tliis  advance  the  following  was  the  ordei"  <»[ 
alignment:  (leneral  ({rover's  division,  consisting  of  live 
l)i-igades,  t()(tk  the  lea<1  ;  (lenei'al  iMuoi-y,  having  rhree 
l)i-ig:ides,  folh>wed  ;  and  (Teiieral  Auger  witli  foui' 
brigades  bi'ought  uj)  the  rear,  aifoi'ding  sui)[)()rt  and  \\vn 
tection  for  sevei'al  batteries  and  for  aniinunitioii,  foi-age 
and  subsistence  wagons,  and^ulances,  and  (jtlier  appen- 
dages that  commonly  follow  an  arniy. 

The  Sixteenth  regiment  was  bi-igaded  with  the  One 
Hundred  Tenth  New  York,  the  One  Hundred  Sixty- 
second  New  Yoi-k  and  Foui'th  Massachusetts,  Colonel 
Ingraham  of  tlie  This-ty-eighth  ^lassachusetts  command- 
ing the  l)rigade. 

The  division  to  which  we  wei-e  assigned,  consisting  of 
twelve  regiments,  was  under  the  command  of  (Ten<']'al 
Emory. 

A  little  past  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  ]\rai'(di 
fourteenth. oui'  division  w^as  oi'dei'ed  into  line, and  there  ^\  e 
stood  or  sat  or  laid  dowji  on  the  gi-ound,  being  pei'iiiitted 
foi'  comfoi-t  to  (dningi>  our  })osition,  until  seven  o'chxds, 
when  the  familial'  orders,  "Attention,  battalion  ! 
Shouldei-  ai'Uis  I  ])y  the  right  of  companies  into 
column,  forward  mar(di  I"'  were  given  and  obeyed. 

At  eight  o'(do(d\,  we  wei"e  halted  for  lueakfasl .  The 
rations  issued  consisted  of  half-cooked  and  not  half- 
freshened  salt  beef,  hardtack,  and  coffee,  llations  of 
su(di  issue  sometimes  led  our  men   to  appear  Ixd'ore   liie 


78  HISTORY    OF    THE    S[XTP:EN'1'JI    ukolafent 

qiuii'teinia.ster's  tent  in  tlie  guise  of  serenaders.  'J'he 
({iiartei'niaster  must  not  be  lield  responsible  personally 
for  the  \)cnv  I'ations  issued  ;  he  was  a  victim  of  circum- 
stances. This  was  the  princii)al  song  indulged  in  on 
such  occasions  : 

"  Old  horse,  old  horse,  how  came  yoii  here  ? 
Vou  plowed  this  earth  for  many  a  \ear  ; 
You've  lived  alone  for  man's  abuse, 
Now  salted  down  for  soldier's  use." 

We  ought  to  sa3%  however,  that  some  of  us.  on  the 
nu)riiing  in  (juestion,  had  for  bi-eakfast  fresh  beef, 
cliickens  and  du(dv  whi(di  our  skillful  pickets,  who 
were  well  versed  in  the  principles  of  international 
martial  law,  had  captured  the  night  before  and  brought 
into  camp. 

Between  nine  and  ten  o'clock  General  Banks  and  his 
staff,  on  their  way  to  the  front,  passed  us,  receiving 
cheer  upon  (dieer  given  with  such  enthusiasm  that  the 
general  must  have  been  thoroughly  gratihed.  We  were 
at  that  hour  about  twelve  miles  from  Poi't  Hudson. 

The  line  of  mai"(di  was  continued  over  a  dusty  i(tad 
and  undei' a  hot  sun,  with  a  halt  of  ten  minutes  e\ery 
liou]'  until  three  o'clock  in  the  aftei-noon,  at  whi(di  time 
we  were  within,  perhaps,  four  miles  of  Port  Hudson. 
Here  we  were  ordered  to  encamp  under  our  shelter  tents 
for  the  remainder  of  the  day. 

Our  men,  as  usual,  had  an  eye  to  business  and  comfort. 
There  were  sheep  and  young  cattle  in  the  helds  n.ear  by, 
and  there  were  but(diei-s  and  meat  dealers  in  our  ivgi- 
ment.  There  were  men,  too,  who  could  build  tires  and 
cook  meat,  and  all  oui'  men  wei'c  by  this  time,  as  alieady 


> 

a: 
< 

H 
C/5 

CO 

ct 

G 
-J 

o 

O 
z 

D 


O 
>- 


NKW     IIA  M  I'SIII  KK    Vol.r  M'KKi;s.  81 

siio-o-est<Ml.  lawyei's  eii(»ti,i;ii  to  know  wlint  oii^lit  to  1)(> 
(loiit^  \v]i('ii  ill  an  eiK'iny's  coiinlry.  The  only  l)arri<'r  in 
the  way  of  this  business  at  that  time  Avas  an  explicit 
oi-(hM-  not  to  forage  and  not  to  take  any  li\e  stork.  'I'he 
adjutant's  writing'  niat(^i'ia]s  had  been  inis])la('ed  by  tlie 
sei;i;eant-inajor  or  some  one  else,  and.  in  consequence, 
vabial)h^  time  was  h)st  l)efoi-e  copies  of  the  order  could 
be  issued  to  the  se\<'ral  coni{)anies.  Lest  a  false  iin- 
])ression  sliould  l)e  hd'r  b}-  the  roreiioinu'  reinai'k.  we  may 
be  aUowed  to  say  that  no  reo-iment  had  a  more  (diicient 
ser.g'eant-major  than  the  one  whose  nanu^  apjx^ars  on  our 
roster. 

The  officers,  meanwhile,  were  viewing;'  with  coiiHictini;- 
and  apparently  distracting'  emotions  tlie  vandalism  going 
on.  At  lengtli  the  orders  were  ready  and  issued.  All 
foraging  ceased  immediately,  but,  as  il'  Pi'ovidence  had 
taken  a  hand  in  favoiing  us,  there  w'as  a  store  of  meat 
at  our  disposal  sufficient  to  last  the  regiment  a  half 
week  at  least,  nor  was  tliere  anything  left  in  sight  on 
which  to  forage. 

Towards  night  of  this  same  day,  April  fourteenth, 
word  was  passed  to  our  headcpiarters  that  ten  thousand 
of  the  enemy  were  movdng  out  of  Port  Jludson  to  make 
an  attack  on  our  lines.  Let  them  come  I  was  the  feeling 
of  most  of  oil)'  men  though  w<^  did  not,  perhaps,  ivalize 
fully  what  such  a  movement  might  mean  for  us.  Still, 
we  had  become  so  thoroughly  tired  of  the  humdrum  of  a 
soldier's  life  in  cam[»,  sutdi  as  we  had  been  leading,  that 
we  were  reckless  enough  to  think  that  anything  for 
a  change  would  be  for  the  better. 


82  HISTOKV    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

Soon  after  dark  we  were  ordered  to  strike  tents  and  be 
in  line  in  live  niinntes.  This  was  done.  A  few  minutes 
later  a  coniiter  order  came  to  break  ranks,  l)iit  to  be 
ready  to  re-form  again  on  short  notice.  What  did  all  this 
hubbub  mean  i  Nobody  seemed  able  to  say.  Perhaps 
it  was  a  part  of  our  discij^line.  Perha])S,  too,  the  trouble 
with  us  was  that  we  wanted  to  know  all  the  inside  plans 
of  the  cam})aigii,  nor  could  we  undei'stand  why  General 
Banks,  did  not  take  each  one  of  us  into  his  confidence. 

After  the  last  order  reacdied  us  we  waited  a  little  time 
to  ascertain  what  might  come  next.  But  as  no  new  move 
seemed  contemplated  for  the  immediate  present,  we  i)r()- 
ceeded  to  make  ourselves  as  comfortable  for  the  night  as 
the  circumstances  would  allow. 

During  the  afternoon  and  evening  there  had  been  con- 
siderable irregular  tiring  by  Admiral  Farragut's  fleet  on 
Port  Hudson,  which,  however,  was  not  sufficiently  dis- 
turbing to  alarm  or  keep  us  awake.  But  at  ten  o"(dock 
in  the  evening  began  as  tremendous  and  magnificent  a 
cannonade  as  ever  was  heard  by  mortals.  Hundreds  of 
guns  were  fiashiiig  their  lightning  into  the  darkness; 
colund)iads.  howitzers,  rifled  pieces  of  all  calibres,  were 
belching  forth  their  thunders  from  both  fleet  and  fort  ; 
mortars  wei-e  filling  the  air  with  their  shells,  whose 
graceful  curves  could  be  traced  till  the  moment  of  ex- 
plosion l)y  the  trails  of  fire  that  followed  them.  It  Avas 
one  of  those  awe-inspiring  exhibitions  of  baibaric  and 
titanic  forces  that  is  never  forgotten. 

At  this  jun(^ture,  we  were  again  ordei-ed  into  line  of 
battle.      The  hours  that  followed  were  of  intensest  excite- 


LU 
~1 
LL 

CO 

b 
< 

< 


O 

CO 

a 


U 
a_ 

u_ 
O 


NEAV   iia:mi'siiikk  V()Hxtk7:i:s.  85 

iiu'ut  iiiid  iiitpi'est.  Expcctiiiu'  iiioiiitMitMi'i  ly  nii  :ill;ick. 
we  waited  and  \va,t(died  the  jjro^-ress  ol'  the  iiulil  Ix'tween 
the  wai'sliips  and  the  (N)nr('derate  i'oi'ces. 

Not  loiiii'  al't(M'  one  o'clock  the  next  luorninu',  Apiil 
fifteenth,  a  liglit  of  considerable  bi-iuhtncss  was  seen  in 
the  direction  of  Port  Tlndsoii.  Our  first  thoiiuiit  was 
that  the  inflammable  bnildinus  of  that  foi'ti-ess  had  been 
fired  by  the  shells  of  oni'  fleet;  l)ut  as  eai'ly  as  three 
o'clock  the  liuht  was  seen  to  be  niovinu'  down  the  river 
towards  the  })()sition  we  then  held.  The  caiinonad*^  still 
continned,  thonudi  less  heavy  than  befoi'e.  and  was  ap- 
proaching nearer  and  neai'er;  a  fierce  fi,u'ht.  as  it  seemed, 
was  going  on;  our  fleet  was  I'etiring  and  the  enemy  was 
following  it  down  and  hghting  it.  We  wei'e  sure  of  all 
this.  AVe  could  hear  the  discharge  of  musketi'y  and 
other  small  arms;  shells  were  in  frequent  explosion,  and 
there  would  be.  as  it  seemed,  an  occasional  bi-oadside. 
The  bi'illiancy  of  the  light  was  constantly  on  the  iiu'rease, 
and  the  hgiding,  ai)paiently,  was  not  much  farther  than 
a  mile  or  two  from  the  extreme  left  (d*  our  line,  though 
hidden  by  a  Ixdt  of  ti'ees  that  skirted  the  riv(M-. 

The  excitement  and  anxiety  among  our  ti()o[»s,  on 
the  increase  from  the  stai-t,  at  length,  almost  reiudied 
fever  heat.  The  next  move  of  the  ('(Uife<lerates,  and 
before  morning,  perhajts.  would  be  in  our  reai",  and  our 
retreat  easily  and  certainly  would  be  cut  off.  In  this 
excited  state  we  stood  in  line  until  a  little  ])ast  live 
o'ck)ckin  the  morning. 

At  that  lionr,  while  evei-y  eye  was  wat<diing  the  suj)- 
posed  light,  there  was  first  a  dee])  lurid  outburst  of  light. 


80  IIISTOKY    OF    TllK    SIXTKKXTH     IIKCtIMEXT 

then  a  glare  and  brilliancy  sonietliiiiii'  like  a  distant  tlasli 
of  liulitninu'.  tlien  there  was  the  iiyirig  into  the  air  of 
(laik  masses  of  })lankin,u-  and  tinil)e]'s,  followed  by  a  dis- 
mal, heavy  l)oom  that  made  the  earth  tremble.  The 
atmosphere  seemed  to  sti'ike  us  as  witli  a  l)low  that  qnite 
stopxjed  the  breath.  Then  there  was  silence,  and  after 
that  the  gray  of  early  morning  filled  a  calm  and  beau- 
tiful sky.  What  did  it  all  mean'i  A  part  of  the  fleet 
certainly  must  have  met  disaster^ 

AVithdrawing  our  eyes  from  what  had  been  riveting 
tliem  for  hours,  we  began  looking  into  one  another's 
faces.  There  were  sick  faces  ;  for  some  of  our  l)oys  had 
been  eating,  the  evening  before,  too  freely  of  fresh  killed 
mutton  that  had  been  less  than  half  cooked  and  was  eaten 
without  ]>epper  or  salt:  there  were  tired  faces,  and  faces 
with  bloodshot  eyes,  but  tliey  were  resolute  faces,  more 
ready  that  morning  to  meet  the  enemy  whicdi  we  expected 
to  appear  any  moment,  or  more  ready  to  move  against  the 
enemy's  strong  citadel  at  Port  Hudson,  if  need  be,  than 
to  go  back  to  the  hltliy  cam[)  at  Baton  Rouge  or  to 
"(yamp  Death  "  at  Can-ollton.  though  it  is  possible  we 
should  have  felt  different  if  we  liad  had  a  larger  experi- 
ence in  actual  service. 

Of  an  attack,  however,  we  felt  certain  whether  in  the 
flout  V)y  fresh  troops  from  Port  Hudson,  or  in  the  lear 
by  the  troops  tliat  we  supposed  had  ])assed  down  the 
river  during  the  night,  we  could  not  tell. 

As  late  as  nine  o'clock  that  morning,  Avord  was  2>:iS''^ed 
quietly  along  the  line  that  an  attack  was  immiiient  any 
moment.       Ifad    the    attack   come   from    the    south,     as 


IVi:\V     HA  M  1 'SI  (IKK    V<»LI\'I'KKKS.  89 

seemed  iiiosf  likely,  oiii'  i-eniiiieiit  wdiild  li;i\t'  Imd  ;dl  the 
tigliting  desii'ed,  for  we  were  in  the  most  exposed  position 
of  any  of  onr  trooj)s  as  will  l)e  seen  by  the  acconi  i)aiiyiiiii' 
diagram,  which  also  indicates  tlie  i)osition  of  regiments 
iieai'est  us. 

Not  far  from  ten  o'clocjs..  onr  brigade  was  called  to 
listen  to  the  reading  of  an  order  l)y  Colonel  Jnuiahani, 
wliicli  was  to  tlie  elfect  that  "  tlie  object  of  the  exp<Mli- 
tion  liad  l)een  accomplished,"'  a  phrase  that  afli'i'w  aids 
became  a  byword  among  the  troops  wheiu'ver  a  move- 
ment of  any  considerahle  nnignitude  was  made  that  I'e- 
sulted  in  nothing,  oi-  next  to  nothing — like  the  famous 
"'  march  np  the  hill  and  down  again." 

The  "  object  of  the  expedition''  snbseijuently  was 
more  fully  explained  as  being  :i  demonstration  on  our 
part  against  Port  IIudso]i  to  aid  the  tieet  in  })assing  its 
batteries. 

The  annonncement  of  Colonel  Ingraham  wasinevei'y 
way  reassuring  to  our  li'oops,  but  we  could  not  see  that 
the  land  foices  had  conti-ibnted  in  any  considerable 
measure,  or  rather,  in  any  measnre  at  all.  to  what  had 
been  accomplished.  We  had  not  tired  a  shot  that  reached 
the  fort,  nor  had  we  seen  an  enemy  except  a  few  scouts 
in  the  distance. 

For  the  fleet,  however,  it  was  an  expensive  victory. 
Oidy  two  of  Karragnt's  gunboats,  the  I/nr/Joid  and 
Alh(i(r<>ss^\vM\  \\\\\  past  the  batteries  of  Port  Hudson, 
while  one  hniidretl  ami  thirteen  of  his  men  had  been 
killed  or  wounded,  four  boats  of  the  fleet  had  l>een  dis- 
abled,   and    the   war-ship    JJis.s/.sxij^pi,    which    had    run 


90  TTTSTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

agToimd,  was  set  on  fire,  and  after  liaving  been  aban- 
doned floated  doAvn  the  river,  discliarging  meanwhile 
her  loaded  cannon  and  smaller  ordnance  as  the  flames 
tonched  them  ;  when  the  flames  reached  the  magazine 
the  linal  exjtlosion,  which  had  almost  a})2)alled  ns, 
followed,  causing  the  excitement  of  the  early  morning 
hours. 

Next  came  the  ordei-  for  our  troops  to  retreat.  The 
reason  for  this  oi'der  was  not  generally  understood,  and, 
in  conse(|uence,  the  teamsters  of  the  quartermaster's 
de[)artment,  especially  those  who  were  some  distance 
from  the  front,  became  panicky. 

Tavo  of  file  infantry  brigades  and  a  part  of  the  artillery 
that  had  been  well  in  the  rear  were  also  a  good  deal 
disturbed,  as  Avord  reached  them  that  there  had  been  flght- 
ing  all  through  the  night,  that  our  troops  were  defeated 
and  were  in  full  retreat. 

'I'lie  hubbul)  of  mule  teams  in  consequence  of  such 
announcements,  the  swearing  even  of  officers  who  were  m)t 
accustomed  to  swear  and  the  anxiety  and  confusion 
of  the  men  in  the  ranks,  cannot  easily  be  described. 

We  then  could  see  with  how  little  difficulty  a  panic 
might  be  started  that  Avould  render  troojis  utterly  uncon- 
trollable. Had  the  enemy  really  nuide  an  attack  upon 
us  (hat  morning,  likely  enough  there  would  have  l)een 
another  famous  Bull  Hun  disaster.  Knowing  that  there 
had  been  no  flghting,  for  we  were  at  the  front,  the  Six- 
teenth did  not  run,  nor  were  we  in  any  haste. 

At  nii(hlay  we  halted  for  Geiieral  Banks  and  staff  to 
pass.      We  were   tired,  faint,  hungi-y.  and    thirsty.     Our 


Port  Hudson 


4^  Mass. 


162  ^NX 


IIOI^N.Y 


XKW      II  A  M  I'SII  I  i;i:    \  OUNTIlKliS.  91 

kin(l-li«':irt('(l  (•(•loix'l  !i:i<l  been  t:ik»'U  sick  niid  \\;is  Icfl  by 
the  r();i(lsi(b'  until  an  :mil)iil:iii('»-'  was  se('iir<M|  foi-  him. 
()iir  horses  were  staggering'  with  fatigue  and  wani  of 
food,  bni  we  wei'e  (|iii(d\ly  in  line  (d'  niar(di  again,  and  il 
was  sunset  l)er()re  we  lialte(|  and  [lihdied  oiii-  tciifs  in  a 
cane  field  for  the  niglit. 

Tliis  hardly  liad  been  done  l)efoi-e  a  terrilic  tropical 
and  ty})ical  Soiitliern  thunder  storm  fell  upon  ns.  Onr 
cooking  iires,  \\lii(di  had  just  biMMi  lighte(k  wei'e  ({ni(d\ly 
extinguished.  Onr  shelter  tents  were  torn  from  Iheii- 
fastenings  and  trailed  in  tlnMnnd,  and  tlie  weary,  hungry 
ti'oops  were  left  \\ithout  ])i'otection  fi-oni  the  ton*ents  of 
rain  falling  iqjon  them  ;  the  men  stood  it  bravely,  tliongh 
wondering  wliat  wonhf  conie  next. 

At  lengtli  tlie  sliower  ceased,  almost  as  (|ni(dvly  as  it 
liad  come  ni)on  ns  ;  iires  made  ont  of  fence  rails,  were 
again  ])nilt  ;  poor  rations  were  distributed  and  ditch 
water  was  onr  l)everage. 

Later,  the  rain  commenced  anew,  and  when  we  laid 
down,  some  time  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock  at  night, 
we  had  from  two  to  fonr  inches  of  watei*  nnder  ns,  and, 
thongh  it  may  a])pear  str;inge  to  others  l)nt  not  to 
soldiers,  \\e  slept  the  sleep  of  the  I'ighteons  and  we  sh^pt 
it  soniully  till  break  of  day. 

Marcdi  sixteenth  was  a  day  of  I'est  so  fai-  as  active 
campaigning  was  conceiaied  ;  but  l)efor<'  the  morning 
lioiiis  were  passed  oni'  l)oys  had  dried  their  (dolhing, 
fonnd  a  spring  of  pure  water,  mad<'  several  other  obser- 
vations, and  l)t'gan  the  familiar  game  of  conliscation. 

The  most  im[)oitant  find  dnring  the  day  will  have  to  be 


t>S  lIlsroKY    OK    TllK    SIXTEENTH    KEGi:\rENT 

accredited  to  our  nei^^hbor.s,  the  pickets  of  tlie  One  Hun- 
dred Tenth  New  York,  who  were  posted  just  beyond  our 
left  tlnnk. 

On  the  otlier  side  of  this  picket  line,  not  far  away  l)ut 
behind  a  belt  of  trees,  were  two  storehouses  well  filled 
with  sugar  and  nudasses.  The  guards  had  been  posted  to 
prevent  raids  in  that  direction,  but  under  pretext  of 
going  to  the  spiing  for  water  the  boys  in  twos  appeared 
before  the  guard  with  tiasks  and  haversacks  ;  a  twinkle  in 
the  eye  and  a  smile  answered  for  pass  words.  The 
situation  was  taken  in  and  the  guard  smiled  back,  and 
received  their  pay  a  little  later  in  sugar  and  molasses. 
Before  three  o'chxdv  nearly  every  man  in  the  Sixteenth 
and  in  the  One  Hundred  Tenth  New  York  had  been 
well  supplied  witli  the  products  of  those  storehouses. 

Later  in  the  afternoon  the  thieving  was  discovered  and 
a  detachment  was  ordered  out  to  arrest  any  soldiers  who 
wei*e  found  in  the  sugar  house  or  coming  from  it  with 
sugar  or  molasses  on  their  person.  Several  belated  men 
Avere  arrested  and  marched  into  camp.  But  as  they 
passed  through  the  tiles  of  spectators,  most  of  tlieni  l)y 
dexterous  movements  backed  into  ()})enings  made  for 
them  and  in  tui-n  became  innocent  lookers  on,  so  that  by 
the  time  the  guai'd-house  Avas  reacdied  nearly  all  the 
])i-isoiiers  had  disai»i)en]vd.  The  officers  wei'e  too  busy 
at  that  tinu'  to  iiKpiiie  into  this  unsoldierlike  behavior 
of  bot  h  the  guards  aud  men- 

I(  ni:i>-  l>e  remarked  in  passing  that  for  our  afternoon 
diuuer  we  had  that  day  fi-esh  mutton,  stewed  chicken, 
aud    hardlacU    sei\ed    in   about  fouiteeu  different  stvles. 


r 
> 


c 
C 
> 

(/: 

C 


NKw    HAM  I'siii  i;k   xounikkks.  9S 

We  nlso  liad  sweet  potatoes  talvt'ii  from  a  li<'l(l  near  by, 
and  for  our  tea  and  coffee  we  liad  fresh  milk  from  (•o^vs 
that  were  ui-azing  in  tlie  field-  Tliis  need  occasion  no 
siirpi'ise.  foi'  not  a  I'cw  of  onr  farmer  l)oys  nndci'stooil  tlic 
fine  art  of  coaxing  a  strange  cow  to  stand  wliiU'  tlic  last 
di'op  of  milk  is  taken  from  lier.  There  is  scarcely  need  of 
saying  that  we  had  sngar  in  quantity  for  oni-  tea  and 
coffee,  and  sngar  or  molasses,  as  we  choose,  for  our 
haidta(d\. 

flaving  feasted,  we  prepared  for  the  night,  r<'pitching 
our  soiled  shelter  tents  and  making  our  beds  out  of  fence 
I'ails.  corn  husks,  and  oat  straw.  About  nine  o'clock  we 
turned  in  having  clear  consciences  and  with  a  })ros[)ect 
of  sound  and  iininterrui)ted  sleep  for  the  night. 

Strange  as  it  may  seem  nnui  in  the  army  as  well  as 
elsewhere  can  sin  and  then  sleep  as  if  nothing  had 
happened. 

But  the  expectations  of  the  soldier  as  to  having  a 
sound  night's  sleej^  are  not  always  realized.  At  two 
o'clock  the  next  morning  the  adjutant  was  roused  fiom 
sleep  and  ordered  to  detail  a  lieutenant  to  act  as  quarter- 
master. At  a  little  after  three  o'clock  he  was  again 
called  to  send  the  regiment  to  tli<'  quartermaster  for 
rations,  and  shoi-fly  before  hve  o'ch)ck  lie  received  orders 
to  have  the  regiment  stiake  tents  without  a  moment's 
delay,  as  another  advance  toward  l^)li  Hudson  was  in 
[)i'os])ect. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

A  MUD  MARCH  UNPARALLELED  DURING  THE  WAR. 

TWK   liendiiiu'  of    this  clmiirt'i-  cei'tainlY  is  n  l)(>ld  one, 
Iiiit  it  is   written    Avithoiit   hesitation,    and   in    I'nll 
knowledge  of  tlin  celelji'ated  nmd  niarcli  of  (leneral 
Bnrnside,  and  of  others  scarcely  less  dilRcnlt,  that  were 
made  in  the   Peninsnlar  campaign   and  elsewhere  dnring 
the  war. 

It  was  while  on  one  of  the  Peninsnlar  nmd  marches 
that  a  soldier  composed  the  following  revised  version  of 
a  familiar  i)rayer,  the  fitness  or  point  of  which  onr  men, 
after  making  the  march  we  are  now  to  descril)e,  liad  no 
difficnlty  in  appreciating: 

"  Now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep, 

In  mud  that's  many  fathoms  deep  ; 
If  I'm  not  here  when  yon  awake. 
Please  hunt  me  up  witli  an  oyster  rake." 

TIk'  nioiiiiiig  of  March  sixteenth  was  delightfnlly 
nshert'd  in  with  the  mild  bi'f'atli  of  early  spring.  The 
forests  snrroiindiiig  our  tempoiary  encampment  were 
i-ich  in  foliage,  and  the  songs  froni  a  thonsaml  l)ii"ds 
adde(l  |( )  t  Ih'  clianii  of  the  hour. 

Ill  compliance  with  oi(h*rs  issued  the  night  before,  we 
were  astir   earlw  havinii-   been    in    readiness   to    fall    into 


KKW      II  AM  I'SII  I  I;K    \()U   X'l'KKUS.  97 

line  since  :il>oiit  ti\e  o'ch.ck  in  the  nioiiiinii'.  But  as 
iisii;il.  hour  iil'tci-  Ikiiii-  piisst'd,  and  still  tliere  were  no 
s[)e('itic  ordeis  to  move.  Tlit'  sun  meanwhile  became 
blistering  hot.  It  was  a  little  past  the  houi"  of  iiooii.  and 
wliile  some  of  the  boys  were  nap})ing,  having  neglected 
to  eat  their  noon  rations,  that  the  order  came,  "  Fall  in 
immediately,"  and  (piite  to  our  sur}>rist'  and  almost  in 
IV'wer  minutes  than  it  takes  to  nai-rate  it,  we  had 
formed  our  line,  broken  by  ''right  face"  into  ''fours/'' 
and  were  moving  quick  time  towards  the  enemy. 

There  were  indications  that  the  Confederate  tioops 
from  Port  Hudson,  having  learned  of  our  retreat  two  days 
before,  had  beu'un  a.  move  either  to  interoent  or  attack 
us.  Our  regiment,  together  with  the  Fourth  Massa- 
(diusetts  and  four  conipanies  of  the  One  Hundred 
Tenth  Xew  York,  were  sent  over  one  road  towards  Port 
Hudson,  and  two  1)rigades  over  another,  either  to  recon- 
noitre or  to  hold  in  checdv  the  Confederates  if  they 
really  were  advancing  against  us,  until  the  main  body  of 
our  troops  could  be  brought  into  position  to  meet  them. 
That  we  w  ere  sent  to  I'econnoitre  seems  the  more  probable. 

This  movement  tested  the  metal  of  the  Sixteenth  more, 
perhaps,  than  any  other  we  had  nuide.  The  mud  was 
still  sticky  under  our  feet,  and  the  sun  was  blazing  hot 
over  our  heads.  Our  men,  under  the  ia[)id  advance, 
b(-gan  to  stagger  ;  they  dared  not  "  fall  out,"  I'or  in  that 
case  they  would  l)e  hd't  in  a  deserted  and  desolate  region, 
and  likely  enough  all  sucdi  stragglers  s[)eedily  would 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

Soon  the  men  began  to  lighten  themselves  of  the  loads 


<J8  IIISTOKV    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    r.E(JIMENT 

they  Avere  carrying.  First  large  supplies  of  sugar  were 
tlirown  away.  For  a  distance  of  a  mile  or  more  those  in 
th<^  rear  hardly  could  step  except  on  sugar  mixed  with 
mud.  Haversack  after  haversack  was  emptied  of  that 
for  which  the  boys,  with  a  measure  of  peril,  had  run  the 
guard  the  day  before. 

Next,  the  men  cast  away  their  blankets,  their  shelter 
tents,  and  their  knapsacks.  How  could  they  do  other- 
wise I  Many  of  them  were  more  than  half  sick,  and 
nenily  all  were  del)ilitated.  Nor  was  there  an  ambulance, 
or  so  much  as  an  army  wagon,  })]'ovided  for  this  expedi- 
tion. 

It  will  be  renieml)ered,  too,  that  each  man  had  l)een 
required  to  take  with  hiui  a  hundred  rounds  of  ammuni- 
tion. Some  of  the  men  had  become  thoroughly  indig- 
nant, feeling  that  this  surjdus  of  ammunition,  as  already 
suggested  should  have  been  carried  by  mules,  not  by 
men.  That  not  a  little  of  this  ammunition,  aside  from 
Avhat  lilled  the  cartridge-boxes,  was  thrown  into  the 
bushes  and  trenches  by  the  roadway  on  this  march,  need 
therefore  occasion  no  surprise. 

And  what  made  matters  worse  was  this  fact  that  we 
had  l)eeii  misdir<M'ted.  or  at  least  we  were  being  led  over 
a  road  wirli  wliicdi  the  guides  could  not  have  been  famil- 
iar. It  was  a  I'oadway  that  appeared  to  have  been  in 
use  only  a  part  of  the  yeai',  and  was  especially  unfit  for 
travel  during  the  spring  months. 

If  this  mistake  had  not  been  made  we  should  have 
nuirched  dry-shod  ()V(-r  an  excelh'iit  road,  ami  have  been 
si)ared  the  hist  instalment  of  our  mud  ex})erience.      As 


MEW      II  AM  I'SII  I1;K    \  (tLrXTKKRS.  101 

it  \\:is.  we  iiiarclied  several  miles  out  ol'  oiii'  way  foi'  no 
otlit')-  pui'iiose  that  we  could  see  than  to  uo  at  h'ast  four 
miles  on  a  cross  road  through  mud  ueai'ly  kn<'e-dee[). 
liut  all  this  was  oidy  preliminary. 

There  were  with  us  up  to  this  time  four  com[)anies  of 
the  One  Hundred  Tenth  New  York,  and  the  Fourth 
Massachusetts,  the  entire  detachment  being  nndei-  the 
command  ol  Colonel  Walker.  After  reaching  tht^  Clinton 
road,  which  we  should  have  readied  two  or  tlii-ee  hours 
earlier,  we  were  marched  five  or  six  miles  further  in 
quick  time  to  make  up  for  the  hours  we  had  lost  in  con- 
sequence of  our  misdirection,  for  which,  however,  we 
had  been  in  no  way  responsilde.  On  coming  u|)  to  the 
other  detachments,  we  should  have  l)een  allowed  at  least 
a  brief  rest;  but  the  commanding  officers  gave  no  heed  to 
our  request,  and,  seeming  to  care  nothing  for  the  [)liglit 
we  were  in,  ordered  the  Sixteenth,  with  the  four  com- 
panies of  the  One  Hundred  Tenth  New  York,  Colonel 
Sage  commanding,  to  proceed  without  delay  to  the  i)lace 
for  which  we  had  started  by  the  impassable  road  we  liad 
taken  on  first  leaving  oui-  encampment  at  noon. 

Whether  New  Hampshire  and  New  York  troops  were  in- 
tentionally discriminated  against  we  cannot  say.  but  the 
Fourth  Massachusetts,  that  had  started  with  us,  was  de- 
tached and  })ermitted  to  })it('h  their  sheltei-  tents  near 
the  Clinton  i-oad.  And  moie  than  this,  there  wei-e  several 
regiments  that  had  marched  that  day  scai'cely  more  than 
five  miles,  while  we  had  inarched  twenty,  a  larger  j)ait 
of  the  way  l)eing  over  difficult  roads,  and  some  of  the 
way    through    mud    knee-deep.       And     yet,    without    a 


1()2  IIISTOK^     OK    TIIK    STXT7<:KN'l'n     i;E(iIMENT 

moment's  rest,  we  were  oi'deied  to  proeeed  on  a  cross 
i-oad  that  led  us  into  one  of  tlie  most  dismal  swamps 
soldiei's  ever  wer*:*  rec|iiired  to  enter. 

As  we  recall  all  these  facts,  the  more  provoking  and 
heartless  appears  the  treatment  we  I'eceived.  We  ought 
to  have  gone  into  a  state  of  rel)ellion  and  have  taken  the 
consequences. 

In  confirmation  in  part  of  what  we  are  saying.  Ave  copy 
a  few  lim's  fiom  one  of  tlie  regimental  histories — that 
of  the  Fifty-third  Massachusetts — whicdi  gives  an  ac- 
count of  their  day's  woik,  in  contrast  to  that  of  ours  : 

"  March  seventeenth,  ''  says  their  historian,  ''  the 
regiment  marched  with  two  others  on  a  reconnoissance 
np  the  (Uinton  road  :  proceeded  five  miles,  and  bivon- 
acked  for  the  night  in  a  beautiful  little  opening  in  the 
woods,  with  a  brook  of  clear  water  rnnnlng  through  it, 
and  suirounded  with  cornus  trees  in  full  bloom-  It  was 
a  (dianning  spot  where  we  would  fain  have  lingered,  but 
we  were  ordered  back  the  next  morning,  and  again  the 
object  of  the  expedition  was  accomplished." 

AYhy  could  not  that  regiment,  or  some  other  one 
equally  favored,  have  plunged  into  the  swamp,  and  we 
have  ])een  allowed  to  bivouac  for  the  niglit  or  at  least  for 
a  few  houi's  in  that  "  beautiful  little  opening"'  '(  Some- 
body certaiidy  Avas  pig-headed,  bull-lieaded.  thick- 
headed or  soiuething  else  of  the  sort. 

The  accompanying  diagram  will  give  the  reader  an 
idea  of  \\  lial  we  have  been  saying. 

The  cane  Held,  where  we  were  encami)ed  and  from 
wliicli  we  sl;iii(Ml,  \\:is  at  the  ])oint  marked  l)y  an  ol)elisk 


NKW     HAM  I'SIII  UK    \(»LrXTKHi;s.  lOf) 

lf|.  \Ve  moved  to  tin'  Id't.  followiim'  up  tlic  I'ivcp  to  the 
}>oiiit  iiKii'kcd  l)y  till'  single  star  |''|.  Here  we  lilcd  to 
the  right,  going  through  two  feet  of  iiiinl  a  part  of  the 
way  to  tlie  point  marked  by  two  stars  |  "••].  Tlieiice  we 
were  hurried  on  to  tlie  [)oiiit  marke<l  by  a  circle  |o|.  At 
this  place  were  several  regiments,  among  them  the  l^'ii'ty- 
tliird  ^[assaclinsetts,  that  liad  maiched  only  li\'e  miles, 
that  is,  from  the  two  stai's  to  a  point  this  side  of  the 
cii-chv  ller*^  also  the  l''\)urtli  Massachusetts  was  de- 
ta(died  and  allo\ved  to  rest. 

'I'lie  Sixteentli  and  tlie  four  companies  of  the  ()ne 
Hundred  Tenth  New  York  then  proceeded  towai-ds 
the  i)oint  mai'ked  by  the  sipiare  [  ^  J,  tlie  New  York 
coni}»anies  sto]»}»ing  at  a  i)oint  indicated  by  the  circde 
with  a  dot  in  the  centre  |  O  |.  while  our  regiment  jiro- 
ceeded  to  the  }»oint  indicated  by  the  S(|uare  [  !J  ].  In  the 
space  between  the  circle  [OJ  and  the  S(][uare  [  ^  |  were 
two  bayous  of  considerable  size  and  several  small  ones, 
also  a  cypress  swam}),  skirted  with  ])onderous  and  dense 
trees  extending  neai-ly  the  entire  distance  between  the 
two  points  indicated. 

Soon  after  our  start  on  this  niar(d],  and  before  we  liad 
reached  the  swamp,  at  a  })oint  indicated  on  the  diagram 
])y  two  small  circdes  [ooj,  our  regiment  was  suddenly 
halted. 

The  oi'ders.  "  Il-alt  I  "'  ''  ^Musicians  to  the  reai'  I  ''  "'  Load 
at  will  I''  '' Company  A-  de[)loy  ! ''  were  given  in  rajiid 
succession  by  our  cool  and  courageous  iJeutenant- 
Colonel  Fuller,  who  was  then  in  command.  The  com- 
pany  officers    couhl    be    li<*ard    cautioning    their    men    in 


KM)  iiis'KiKV   (»F  THE  siATF.K>,rn    i;e(;ime>;t 

soniewiint  aiitlioritative  tones,  thus:  ''Steady,  boys.'' 
"Keep  cool."  ''Load  carefully.'"  Tlie  loading-  was 
(iuiekly  done  and  tlie  liiiiis  were  brought  into  position 
for  the  '^Keady!"  "Aim  I  "  "Fire." 

Had  tlie  enemy  really  api)eared,  our  re.uimcnt  would 
have  foiiuht  that  iiii;ht  like  vetei'ans.  AYe  wei'e  just 
cross,  out  of  sorts,  and  desi)erate  enouii'h  to  iiii'ht  anv 
lK)dy  of  trooi)s  coming"  against  ns.  Death  seemed  to  have 
no  tnn-ors.  The  orders  had  been  given  to  meet,  as  we 
had  rnasoii  to  suppose,  a  cavali'y  i-aid  of  the  Confede- 
rates. The  scare  was  caused,  howevei-,  by  a  snuill  body 
of  Federal  cavali-y  returning  fiom  an  attempt  to  discover 
the  ])osition  and  strength  of  the  enemy  at  the  north  of 
ns.  Without  stopping,  this  cavalry  company  moved 
back  to  the  Clinton  road,  leaving  ns  to  scout  and  i)atrol 
for  ourselves. 

It  was  afterwards  learned  that  fifteen  hundred  Con- 
federates were  at  that  hour  slowly  moving  towards  the 
pcjsition  we  then  held.  AVe  did  not  know  anything  of 
our  danger,  however,  and  a  little  later  resumed  our 
UKircdi.  The  Hashing  eye  and  nerve  of  our  boys  seen  a 
few  minutes  before  when  a  tight  was  in  pros})ect,  soon 
gave  place  to  half-closed  eyes,  bent  shoulders,  and  that 
long,  lo})ing  ])ace  that  characterizes  thoroughly  tired 
men. 

iVs  a  precautionary  measure,  company  F  was  divided 
and  sent  out  on  either  side  to  Hank  the  i-egiment  during 
its  advance.  It  was,  howevei',  an  impossible  undertak- 
ing. After  repeated  attempts  to  make  headway  through 
water,  mud.  underbrush  and  among  prostrate  tree^,  Ca])- 


^V.W     UXMV^IUUV    VOLT  NTHEUS.  107 

tniii  Woods,  iH-ali/iiii:-  llial  lie  imist  liinc  FuIUmi  coiisidei-- 
:il)ly  Ix'liiiid  tlic  I'cuinii'iit.  ;iiid.  I  licicroic.  no  loii<;<'i'  could 
Hank  ir,  soiiohr  the  I'oad  and  awaited  ihc  coininu-  of 
Lieutenant  Adams,  who  was  in  conuiiand  oi  the  othei' 
detaidinii'iit  of  the  coui^tany. 

After  a  Inief  (hday  and  to  the  very  o'l'eat  relief  <>i  Cap- 
tain Woods.  A(hiins  eniei-,ued  from  the  swain|)  and  the 
entire  comi)ariy  took  u[)  its  line  of  marcli,  reafdiinii-  soon 
after  the  positi(>n  occupied  by  the  foui-  coni])anies  of  the 
One  Hundred  Tenth  New  York. 

Of  the  pickets  impiii-y  was  made  for  the  w  hei-eabouts 
of  tlie  Sixteenth  and  ))ein,u-  infoi'med  that  it  had  pass<Ml 
into  the  swamp  beyond,  (/aj)tain  Woods  Jiuii-ied  on  liis 
men  as  I'apidly  as  possible  until  tlie  regiment  was  ovei'- 
taken. 

The  last  few  miles  of  our  mud  mar(di  almost  beggai's 
descri])tion.  Every  now  and  then  some  of  ijie  nien 
wouhl  stuiid)le  and  fall,  and  were  so  exhausted  that 
they  were  unable  to  I'ise  without  help.  The  shoes 
of  many  of  the  men,  lilled  with  water  and  mud.  became 
so  imbedded  that  after  repeated  and  ineffectual  effoi-ts  to 
extricate  tliem,  were  left  behind,  and  the  men  continued 
to  stagger  on  in  tiieir  stocking-feet. 

I'he  hoi'ses  of  the  officers  were  loaded  with  the  guns 
and  knapsacks  of  the  fainting  men,  and  though  thus 
reli<'ved  several  (d"  our  ovei'-taxed  comiiuh's  dropju'd  out 
of  the  I'anks,  found  some  knoll  and  sank  uimui  it  ap[»ai'- 
ently  indifferent  whether  they  shouhi  sleep  till  niorn 
ing,  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  or  meet  (h'uth  in 
that  lonely  phice, 


108  IIIS'IOKV    OF     IIIK    SIXTEENTH    KEGl.MENT 

Those  wIh)  liad  strength  continued  the  march  through 
this  swamp  and  its  bayous  wliose  waters  in  places 
reached  nearly  to  the  arm-pits  of  the  shorter  men,  and 
we  found  ourselves,  a  few  minutes  before  nine  o'clock  in 
tlie  evening,  at  the  i)lace  for  wliicli  we  had  started  nine 
liours  before.  Under  a  pai'tly  clouded  sky  we  broke 
raidvs  and  expected  to  l)ivouac  there  till  morning. 

As  precautionary  measures  no  tires  were  lighted,  no 
convei'satioii  permitted  save  in  ^vhispers,  and  no  com- 
mands given  except  in  undertones.  The  pickets  were 
well  posted  ;  headquarters,  such  as  we  had,  were  in  an 
open  held  by  the  roadside  and  silence  reigned.  Those 
who  were  ]U)t  assigned  to  guard  duty,  wet  and  covered 
with  mud,  gnawing  a  little  hardtack  to  keep  sonl  and 
body  togethe]',  threw  themselves  in  great  disorder  n\Hm 
the  ground  for  such  rest  as  tliey  could  get. 

Scarcely  more  than  an  hoar  could  have  passed  after  we 
had  taken  our  position  for  the  night  when  a  man  came 
into  our  lines,  who,  in  a  quiet  and  perfectly  self-possessed 
way,  as  our  recollection  serves  us,  made  essentially  these 
statements  :  "  The  Confedei'ates  are  near  you  and  are 
advancing.  General  Dwight  who  has  reconnoitered  to  a 
point  neai-  Port  Hudson,  is  in  full  retreat.  [Dwight  had 
gone  by  the  road  indicated  by  a  doulde  dotted  line  (  ) 
to  within  four  miles  of  Port  Hudson.]  The  regiment 
that  has  beeii  on  your  right  [four  companies  of  the  One 
Hundred  Tenth  New  York]  is  withdrawn  and  you  ought 
to  follow." 

There  were  no  written  oiders.  indeed  the  man  seemed 
to  Imve  no  special  orders  fi'om   any  one,  and  after  giving 


Ni;\v    iiA  M  I'sii  m;k   \(»i.in'im;i:i;s.  109 

this  iiil'oiniat  idii  disappeared  as  ([iiickly  as  lie  had  come. 
Inquiry  was  made  foi-  liim  sul)se(|U('iit  1\ ,  l)iit  he  coiihl 
not  be  found.  For  aiiglit  we  knew  he  uiiiiht  have  l)een 
a  Confederate  spy.  or  picdvet  l)ut  friendly  (o  our  si(h- 
giving  us  this  information  tliat  we  might  make  good  our 
escape. 

If  tliese  are  the  facts,  we  hereby  express  to  that  man. 
alive  ()]•  dead  our  gratitude.  And  if  he  is  still  living 
and  this  story  of  tlie  mud  mai'cdi  ever  comes  to  his 
notice,  we  hope  he  will  re})oit  his  name  to  our  regiment 
through  the  adjutant-general  of  New  llampsliire,  or  in 
any  other  j)ossil)le  way. 

If  Ave  are  mistaken  in  this  conjecture,  and  if  the  scout 
was  a  Union  soldier,  we  shall  welcome  any  corre'ction  of 
these  statements.   "" 

Immediately  on  the  departure  of  this  nmn  our  officers 
were  hastily  summoned  for  consultation.  While  thus 
engaged  one  of  our  number,  Dr.  Fisk,  who  had  been 
j)rospecting  for  drinking  watei',  reported  that  he  had  seen 
a  woman  at  the  back  of  a  jdantation  house  iieai'  by  giving 
signals  with  a  candle.  Presunu)l)ly  she  was  communi- 
cating with  Confederate  trooi)s  who  were  kriowji  to  Ix^  in 
close  proximity  to  the  position  we  then  held. 

*  vSince  the  publication  of  the  foregoing  account  we  have  received  a 
letter  from  one  of  our  ofificers  who  has  the  impression  that  the  man  who 
gave  us  this  information  had  authority  to  do  so  from  General  Dwight. 
We  will  not  say  positively  that  such  was  not  the  case,  but  anything  like  an 
order  for  retreat  should  have  come  into  the  hands  of  the  adjutant,  which 
was  not  the  case.  And  further,  we  do  not  see  how  it  was  possible  for  a 
Federal  soldier  from  Dwight's  division  at  that  time  to  have  reached  us  for 
the  Confederates  were  Ijetween  us  and  Dwight  except  on  our  right  where 
stretched  a  well  nigh  impenetrable  swamp. 

Our  recollection  is  quite  vivid  and  is  confirmed  liy  others  whom  we  have 
consulted  that  after  receiving  the  information  given  by  the  scout  we  made 
our  retreat  upon  our  own  responsibility. 


110  IIISTOKY    OF    TlIK    SIXTEKNTH     KE(;IMP:XT 

On  furtlier  investigation  it  was  ascertained  that  the  four 
companies  of  tlie  One  Hundred  Tenth  New  York  had 
withdrawn,  and  that  we  were  witliout  artillery  or  cavalry 
or  any  otlier  support,  and  were  without  any  connnuni- 
cation  with  the  otlier  trooi)S  of  our  brigade,  who  were 
foui'  miles  away. 

AVe  were  not  long,  therefore,  in  reaching  the  conclu- 
sion that  we  were  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  swani]). 
Hence,  we  decided  to  I'etreat.  Word  was  })assed  as 
(}uickly  as  possible  from  man  to  man.  and  in  a  half- 
dazed  condition  our  regiment  soon  was  in  line  of  mai'ch. 
headed  for  the  several  bayous  and  hideous  swamps 
thiougli  whi(di  we  had  just  passed.  We  made  this  move 
noiu'  too  soon.  The  waters  in  the  first  l)ayou  were 
slowly  rising.  Our  conjectui-e  was  that  the  Confeder- 
ates had  turned  the  water  of  some  otlier  bayou  into  this 
one  in  order,  if  possible,  to  ciit  off  our  retreat.  Then 
began  a  repetition  of  what  we  had  exi»erienced  an  houi' 
or  so  before. 

Tt  was  l)y  this  time  too  dark  to  ]»ick  our  way.  as  at  a 
few  ])oiuts  we  had  been  able  to  do  when  we  entered  the 
swamp  on  the  otlier  side.  Oui'  men  soon  were  wading 
in  mud  that  was  waist-dee]).  Every  now  and  then  they 
would  stumble  over  logs  and  one  another.  Many  of 
them  were  too  tired  to  uttei'  a  word  :  with  l)ent  forms 
ami  downcast  eyes  they  sti'uguled  on.  Some  wei'e  sweni'- 
ing  at  every  mishap  and  othei-s  in  half  praye)'  and  half 
oath  were  saying.  ''()  (iodl  I  cannot  stand  this  any 
longer.'"  The  hooting  of  owls  and  splashing  of  i-eptiles, 
es])e('ially  young  alligators  and  moccasin  snakes,  added 


^'i:\V     IIA  M  I'SII  I  KK     XOIJNTKKIIS.  Ill 

li'looiii  to  flit"  (hiikiicss  of  fli<'  iiiulit.  W'liy  some  of  llie 
iiK'ii  were  not  I'ntnlly  bitrcii  I>y  i-eptiles  is  more  llinii  we 
can  tell. 

AVlien  hardly  knowiiiu'  wliicli  way  tlie  road  le(l  we 
would  light  a  candle  or  two.  and,  having  made  our 
observations,  continue  to  feel  our  way  in  the  darkness, 
which  at  times  was  so  dense  that  we  scai'cely  could  see 
the  hand  before  the  face. 

The  most  distressing  i-ecoi-d  to  make  in  this  ])art  of 
the  narrative  is  that  some  of  oui'  men.  as  we  lia\'e  reason 
to  l)elieve,  who  enteicd  this  doleful  swamp  ue\ei'  came 
out  of  it. 

AVe  were  while  going  and  i-eturning,  thus  beswamix^d 
foi-  neai'ly  hve  hours. 

At  a  little  past  miduiglit.  more  dead  than  alive,  w^e 
crawled  out  of  this  dismal  slough  and  soon  aftei-  i-earlied 
the  Clinton  road.  llei-e  we  had  hoped  to  I'est,  but  f(Min<l 
that  the  other  troo2)s.  who  had  been  taking  their  eas(^ 
since  mid-f(uenoon  the  day  l)efore,  already  wei'e  foi'ui- 
ing  in  line  to  reti'eat,  the  ]'(^])()rt  having  i-eached  them 
that  an  advance  of  the  Confederate  cavali'y  had  begun. 
The  Sixteenth  was  iu)t  gi\'en  time,  therefoi'<\  (o  mak<^  a 
cup  of  coffee  oi'  even  to  take  breath,  but  ^\•as  oi'dei-ed  lo 
continue  its  maich  in  (|uick  tinn^.  Some  of  oni-  men. 
howevei',  conld  not  do  this  and  di'o})])ed  in  their  ti'acks 
by  the  roadside.  Had  theii-  li\-es  dei)ende(l  on  making 
this  move  with  the  olhei-  ti'oops  they  wonid  ha\-e  I'e- 
nmined,  foi- a  tinu'  at  least,  where  they  had  fallen. 

We  do  not  know  that  any  complaini  oi'  criticism 
should  be  offered  at  this  point,  for  the  enemy  doubtless 


112  TIISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

was  followiiiii'  us  up  closely  and  the  position  then  occu- 
pied was  a  l)ad.  at  h^ast  an  exposed  one,  had  an  atta(dv 
l)een  made. 

The  march  was  contiur.cd  foi'  an  liourand  a  half  longer, 
until  fairly  good  fighting  gi'ound  was  reached.  A  halt 
was  oi'dei-ed,  tlie  ti'oops  wci'c  pi-o})erly  ai'i'anged,  and 
there  was  ]-est  until  daylight. 

'i'lie  ]»lace  assigned  to  our  regiment  was  low  and 
swami)y.  so  nnudi  so  that  on  rising  at  daylight  the 
rul)l)er  blanket  under  the  major  and  adjutant,  who  were 
bunked  together,  had  sunk  into  the  soft  ground  and  was 
hlled  with  a  ])ailful  oi-  moie  of  mud  and  water. 

At  this  point  in  the  nai'i-ative,  we  must  go  l)a(d\.  foi'  a 
few  UKUuents,  for  some  of  oui'  comrades  were  left  on  the 
other  side  of  the  swam])  when  the  main  liody  of  the 
regiment  had  ci'ossed,  oi'  was  ci-ossing  it.  Tliere  were 
three  groupings  of  these  l)elated  and  imperiled  men. 

The  hrst  grouping  were  the  pi(dvets  that  had  l)een 
stationed  to  the  north  and  east  of  the  regiment.  In  the 
hurry  and  confusion  of  the  retreat  the  officer  of  the  day. 

Lieutenant (we  withhold  his  name),  had  foi'gotten 

to  see  that  the  giuirds  were  notified  and  called  in. 

One  f)f  those  guards,  a  ])rivate  of  ('om])any  (\  who  was 
statioiu'd  neai'est  the  ]'(»ad  leading  to  the  s^\'am]),  seeing 
that  the  regiment  was  on  a  move,  gi'ew  uneasy.  He  felt 
thei'e  must  have  been  an  oveisight  or  mistake  on  the 
part  of  some  one.  and  tlier(d*oi'e  resolved  to  shouldei-  on 
liis  own  account  a  measu]-(^  of  responsil)ility.  Accord- 
ingly, he  went  to  his  neaivst  neighbor,  telling  hiiu  to 
pass  along  word  froni  man   to   man   to  come  at   onc(^   to 


]\i:W     nAMPSlIIKK    VOUNTEKIJS.  113 

tlir  ])l;i('t'  wlicic  liiid  Ikm'Ii  the  lit';i(l(|  ii;i  It  cls  of  tllc  re,<i'i- 
iiK'iit.  W'licii  ;ill  li:i(l  icpoitcd.  lie  said  fo  tliciii.  ■'  Txiys. 
no  (loiil)t  wc  li:i\'<'  IxMMi  left  throniih  some  1)1  iiiidci'. 
What  shall  wc  do  i" 

After  consultation  it  was  tlte  uiiaiiinioiis  opinion  of 
tlie  men.  tliou,i;'li  witliout  oi'ders,  tliat  they  wonid  l»etter 
([uit  tliei]'  ])ost  and  follow  on  after  the  rei^-inient  I'ather 
than  remain  where  they  were  snre  to  fall  into  the  hands 
of  the  Confederates.  Accordingly,  they  did  abont  as 
nnmilitary  a  tiling  as  soldiers  well  conld  do,— deserted 
their  p)ost  and  followed  the  retreating  regiment. 

Tliey  found,  tii-stofall,  that  the  planking  of  the  l)]-i(lge 
ove]-  tlie  first  and  (leei)est  bayon  had  been  tlir(»wn  into 
the  stream  by  the  last  of  our  men  who  had  ci'ossed  it. 
Holding  their  cartridge-boxes  above  the  water,  they 
forded  this  l)ayou  in  safety.  But  the  remainder  of  the 
march  in  the  darkness  was  fearful  and  horrible.  Once 
in  the  swamp,  however,  they  w^ere  safe  from  the  Con- 
federates, for  no  enemy  on  earth  would  have  followed 
them  where  they  went  that  night.  Those  retreating 
guards  overtook  some  of  the  stragglers  of  our  regiment 
who  from  sheer  exhaustion  had  fallen  behind,  but  by 
encouragement  and  help  the  most  of  them  followed  until 
the  nuiin  body  of  the  troops  was  reached  on  the  Clinton 
road. 

The  second  gi'oui)ing  of  our  deserted  men  numl)ered 
six  who  had  been  stationed  on  oiit]>ost  dnty  on  the  left 
flank  of  the  regiment.  They,  too,  had  l)ecome  uneasy. 
What  indications  of  life  they  heard  wei-e  on  tlieii'  fioid 
where   the   enemy   was,    and    not    far   away,    and   it   was 


114  TTISTORV    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KE(;nrEXT 

(uniiiously  and  painfully  silent  in  the  direction  where 
our  regiment  was  supposed  to  be  ;  and  I'urtliernioie,  the 
signal,  an  occasional  rapping  on  the  sword  scabbard  ])y 
the  officer  of  the  day,  that  had  been  agreed  upon,  with 
which  to  keep  those  pickets  in  touch  witli  the  regiment, 
was  no  longer  heard.  The  men  concluded,  therefore,  to 
investigate,  and  upon  doiiiu'  so  found  that  the  regiment 
had  gone  and  that  they  were  left  apparently  alone. 

Those  six  men  concluded,  without  further  delay,  that 
they  would  follow  the  regiment.  There  was  between 
them  and  the  ford  a  rail  fence  well  covei-ed  with  vines. 
On  the  south  side  of  this  they  quietly  crept  a  j^art  of  the 
way  on  their  hands  and  knees  in  order  not  to  arrest  at- 
tention, for  l)y  that  time  the  Confederate  scouts  were 
close  upon  them. 

The  water  in  the  lirst  bayou  still  lising,  liaving  also 
something  of  a  current,  was  then  almost  too  dangerous 
to  enter,  l^ut  the  men  took  the  chances.  How  they 
ever  forded  it  and  found  their  way  through  the  swamp 
beyond  it  is  an  astonishment  to  every  one  who  partici- 
pated in  that  doleful  night's  adventure. 

One  of  their  number,  in  giving  an  account  of  his 
experience  to  the  writer,  said  :  ''We  could  not  see  our 
way  and  we  went  thiough  that  swamj)  solely  by  the 
sense  of  feeling.  We  could  tell  l)y  the  condition  of  the 
mud  where  the  men  ali-eady  had  ]iassed,  and  this  was 
our  only  guide/' 

One  of  the  numlx'i-,  after  ineffectual  eiforts  to  keep 
along  with  the  rest,  fell  behind,  and  for  two  days  was 
i'eport:'(l    as   missing.      It  is  a  wondei-  that  in  despaii'  he 


o 


NKw    iiA  M  I'siii  i;i-;    \()i,r  N'lJOKKs.  117 

(lid  not  sink  in  the  (hirkiicss  iiiid  liiul  his  liiiiiii  l-placc  in 
rill'  111  lid. 

Tilt'  otlit'i'  five  I'tMclx'd  tlu^  <'iiil):nikiii<'iit  on  the  sidi^  of 
the  (Miiitoii  lond  l»iit  could  uo  iio  fiirtlifM-.  To  their  dis- 
iiiiiy  they  found  tliiit  the  other  ti-oo]>s,  intdudinii'  oiii- 
i-euiiiM'iit.  li:id  sonic  time  before  taken  iij)  tlicii-  line  of 
mai'cdi,  and  where  they  had  uone  those  tive  men  did  not 
know.  WMiile  they  wei'c  lyini;-  there  |at  the  point  on 
the  diaii'i'ani  marked  C)  |,  a  company  of  Confedei-ate 
cavalry  scouts  ])assed  down  the  load  within  ten  feet  of 
them,  and  a  few  minutes  latei'  ualloped  batdv,  liavini;' 
(lisco\"eied,  no  doiikt.  that  the  deta(diments  l)ivoua(d\ed 
at  the  points  indicated  in  the  diagram  by  the  thi'ee  small 
circles  [  ^^'q  ]  were  in  li'ood  })osition  to  rei)el  an  atta(d\. 

.Vt  dayliu'ht  those  tive  men  followed  down  the  I'oad. 
keex)ing,  meanwhile,  a  sliarj)  lookout  for  the  enemy, 
until  the  otiier  troops  wei-e  oveitaken. 

The  third  a:roiii)inii'  of  our  deserted  men.  four  in 
number,  three  of  whom  were  members  of  the  band,  the 
other  a  private,  had  sought  the  comfort  and  protection  of 
a  slave  cabin  near  the  position  taken  V)y  the  reo-inient 
for  the  night  and  had  fallen  aslee]).  AVithin  a  few- 
minutes  after  the  guards  and  ])i(d\<4s  had  gone,  this 
cabin  was  snia-ounded  and  the  four  men  wei-e  taken 
p]'isone]-s,  and  the  next  moi'iiing  mai(died  into  Poll 
Hudson. 

It  is  just  to  all  parties  to  say  at  this  point  that  it  sub- 
sequently tiirm'd  out  that  the  coiij<"ctiire  of  the  private 
in  (V)m])any  (',  llamseyC  I'oiilwell.  was  correct.  The 
lieutenant   of   the  guard,  on    his  own  confession   siibse- 


]1S  iiisi'()i;v   (»K  THE  stxtp:extii  ijK(h:\iknt 

qiiHiitly  iiiiidt'.  liiul  not  attended  to  one  of  liis  most 
important  duties,  Avliicli  wns  to  call  in  tlieii'uai-d  and  the 
ontpost  pi(dvet  at  the  time  the  reii'iment  moved. 

Though  this  remissness  was  known  to  the  regimental 
officers,  it  Avas  thought  best  not  to  ie])rimand  either  the 
lienfenant  for  his  neglect  or  the  men  on  pi(ds;et  dnfy 
for  tlieir  disobedience  and  desertion.  Indeed,  who  was 
qiialitied  to  administer  discii)line  ;;  Those  in  command 
above  us,  as  we  believe,  had  failed  in  their  duty,  having 
left  our  regiment  to  shift  for  itself.  Noi'  could  our 
own  regimental  officei-s  very  well  court-martial  the 
gnards  and  pickets,  since  without  orders  the  entire 
regiment  had  taken  the  mattei'  of  retreat  into  its  own 
hands. 

It  is  perfectly  manifest  that  the  Sixteenth  regiment, 
according  to  the  rules  of  war,  onght  to  have  had  its 
colors  taken  away,  and  have  been  disgraced. 

Bnt,  on  the  other  hand,  had  we  remained  beyond  the 
bayon  one  honr  longer  than  we  did,  there  would  have 
been  for  lis  no  escape.  We  therefore  have  no  regrets 
and  feel  not  the  slightest  mortification  in  recording 
those  unmilitary  acts. 

In  all  probability  undei'  similar  ciicumstances  this 
behavioi'  would  have  been  re])eate(l  by  our  men.  And 
whatevei-  may  be  thought  of  what  we  are  saying,  and 
while  I'ealizing  the  peril  of  the  unmilitary  conduct  that 
l)y  im])lication  we  are  recommending,  still  we  accoid 
v)nr  praises  to  good  judgment  and  common  sense  aswell 
as  to  imi)licit  and  ex]»licit  obedience  to  orders,  especially 
when  the  shi])  is  on  file  or  when  confidence  in  the  com- 
manding officers  is  somewhat  impaired. 


NKW     HAM  PS  HUM-:    AOLrXTEKKS.  110 

(^:is;il)i;nica  was  a  l)i'ave,  i^ood  boy,  l)iil  we  always  liave 
tlioiiuiit  Ik'  was  lackiiiii'  soiiiewliat  in  '' liorst^  sense ''  if 
the  exjii't'ssioii  can  be  j)ai'(b)ne(l,  when  he  I'einained 

"  Staiulint^  on  the  hiirninj^  ileck. 
Whence  all  but  him  had  fled." 

Refurninu'  now  to  tlie  main  naia'ative,  we  iind  onr  j<\u'- 
inieiit.  \\ith  most  of  the  stra,u\i;le]-s  wlio  had  followed  its, 
still  l)ivona(d\ed  at  tlie  ]>l:u'e  we  had  ]'ea(died  l)etween 
two  and  tliree  o"(dock  in  tlie  moi'iiinii,'.  It  was  slightly 
I'oggy  and  not  fairly  light  when  oui'  men  were  astir  the 
next  nioining.  Such  looking  men  as  composed  the  Six- 
teenth regiment  when  the  light  t'nlly  dawned,  this  world, 
at  least  in  civilized  conntries.  I'ai'ely  has  seen.  Their 
featnres  were  pinched  and  haggard  ;  their  eyes  blood- 
shot and  snnken  ;  their  legs  and  feet  stiff  and  swollen. 
There  was  scarcely  a  foot  in  the  regiment  but  could 
show  its  blistered  toes  ;  there  were  ankle-joints  com- 
pletely peeled  by  the  hard  usage  ;  some  of  the  men  had 
on  but  one  shoe,  others  had  lioth  feet  bare  or  bound  up 
in  rags.  Some  of  the  men  while  struggling  and  stagger- 
ing in  the  swamp  had  bravely  clung  to  all  their  accou- 
trements and  the  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition,  but 
others  had  been  forced  to  throw  away  not  only  theii'  am- 
munition but  tlieii-  guns,  knapsacks,  blankets,  and  for 
(dothing  had  on  little  excei)t  coat  and  pants.  There  was 
not  a  man  in  the  wdiole  number  who  was  not  mud-be- 
sprinkled or  mud-besoak<^d  nearly  to  liis  waist,  and  not 
a  few  in  the  ]-anks,  who,  whih-  in  the  swamp  had  stum- 
bled over  stumps,  fallen  timber,  and  ea(di  other,  were  a 
mass  of  mud  froni  head  to  feet.     As  one  of  our  regimen- 


1'2()  iiisi(»i;y  of  the  sixtkkxth  kK(mm>:nt 

till  coi-resijondeiits  wrote,  —  "'a  sorei'-skiiined,  stift'er- 
joiiited.  or  more  woebegon  and  bog-covered  body  of  men 
was  never  seen/' 

Our  readeis  easily  can  iirfer  tliat  tliose  were  among 
tlie  expei'iences  tlial  helped  to  sa})  tlie  vitality  of  the 
Sixteenth,  and,  notwithstanding  the  natural  vigor  of  its 
men,  made  them  an  easy  prey  to  disease  and  acconnts  in 
part  for  the  terrible  fatality  that  came  to  them  a  month 
or  more  later.  There  is  no  doul)t  that  scores  of  our  reg- 
iment never  after  that  mud  march  knew  a  well  day. 

We  hnd  on  consulting  our  journal  that  our  rations 
that  morning  were  reduced  to  coffee  and  hardtack.  As 
soou  as  we  had  partaken  of  these  the  troops  were 
ordered  to  fall  into  line,  and  after  a  march  of  an  hour  or 
more  we  reached  the  cane-held  that  we  had  left  the  day 
before.  At  the  order,  ''Break  ranks!"  most  of  the  men 
dropi)ed  to  the  ground  completely  exhausted. 

AVe  need  not  say,  for  it  passes  without  saying,  that 
the  recollection  of  what  we  have  just  narrated,  even 
after  these  many  years  have  intervened,  is  sickening 
almost  beyond  endurance. 

Pardon  the  recapitulation  of  what  we  were  su])jected 
to  during  twenty-four  hours  beginning  on  the  morning 
of  March  seventeenth. 

First,  We  were  kept  waiting,  most  of  the  time  in  line, 
from  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  till  midday. 

Second,  We  made  a  needless  march  several  miles  on 
rough  and  muddy  roads,  in  roundal)out  ways  when 
shorter  and  well-made  roads  should  have  been  taken;  and 
all  this  was  in  consequence  of  the  l)lunder  oi'  ignorance 
of  those  who  had  misdirected  us. 


NKw    HAM  I'sii  I  i;k   \(>IJ  ntkeus.  128 

'I'liird.  'riioii^li  ali'eady  exhausted  fi-oiii  a  loiiu'  and 
(jiiick  luareli.  and  tlioiiiili  tlieiv  was  at  eoidinaiid  an 
ahimdanct'  ol'  fresh  ti()(>}»s.  yet  oiii'  regiment  and  foiii' 
('(»nii)ani('s  of  flie  One  Hundred  Tei'.tli  New  York,  wei-e 
sent  through  a  pnrgatory  of  mud  and  ditcdi  water,  to  an 
ont|)ost  whicli  was  in  (dose  i)roxiinity  to  the  enemy. 

Fourth,  Tliere  had  been  furnished  neither  cavalry  to 
escort  us.  noi-  artillery  tt>  su[)port  us,  no]-  baggage  wagons 
to  help  us,  iioi"  a  solitary  army  ambulance  to  caiiy  our 
sick  and  disabled  men. 

Fifth,  There  were  no  nif^ans  of  conimnnication  between 
our  regiment  and  the  remainder  of  the  troops  then  on 
the  Clinton  road,  nor  any  officer  in  authority  to  tell  us 
why  we  were  sent  to  this  outjxjst,  or  what  to  do  while 
there,  or  when  to  return. 

Sixth.  While  we  were  in  this  jierilous  position  and 
when  we  made  our  retreat,  the  Confederate  scouts  were 
within  sight  of  us,  and  their  troops,  in  force  at  least 
five  thousand,  as  subsequently  was  learned,  including 
cavalry  and  infantry,  were  within  two  miles  of  where 
we  biv<)ua(ds.ed  and  w^ere  cautiously  feeling  their  way 
down  the  strip  of  land  lying  between  the  Mississi])pi  and 
the  bayous  that  we  must  cross  before  we  could  reach  the 
other  troops  of  our  command.  Had  they  flanked  us  even 
with  a  small  detachment  of  cavalry,  we  should  have 
been  bagged  and  mar(died  to  Port  Hudson  in  the  morning. 

We  do  not  cai'e  to  say  nioi'e,  nor  \\ill  we  comment 
further  on  that  whole  mise]'al)le  affair.  Our  indignation 
is  too  intense. 

After  reaching   the   encampment  in  the  cane-tield,  we 


124  IIIS'IOKV    (tF    'I'lIK    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

were  notified  tliat  tliere  still  was  danger,  tliongh  seem- 
ingly not  so  great  as  the  day  l)ef()re.  Our  men,  tliere- 
foie,  measural)ly  had  to  be  kei)t  in  shape  and  position 
to  form  in  line. 

The  likelihood  ot*  an  attack  mnanwhile  was  so  great 
that  General  Banks  wanted  every  available  man  to  ])e 
In'onght  to  tliH  front. 

The  adjutant  accordingly  was  sent  dnring  the  day  to 
Baton  Rouge  to  look  up  those  of  the  Sixteenth  who  had 
l)eeu  left  in  the  hospital  and  convalescent  camj)  and  to 
bring  to  the  front  all  who  were  willing  to  accompany 
him.  The  men  were  called  t(^gether,  and  after  a  state- 
ment of  the  case  thirty-two  volnnteered  to  make 
the  effort.  Some  of  those  who  volunteered  were  too  sick 
to  march,  and  the  line  when  formed  presented  as  pitiful 
a  sight  as  one  cares  to  look  on.  Had  the  anthority  rested 
with  the  officer  every  one  of  those  men  except  a  half 
dozen  professional  bummers  would  have  been  sent  back 
to  the  hospital.  Poor  men  !  Some  of  them  marched 
nntil  they  sank  in  their  tracks  and  were  carried  back  in 
an  ambnlance  ;  others  never  recovered  from  the  effort  to 
do  their  duty  and  not  to  appear  to  desert  their  comrades 
while  in  the  face  of  the  enemy.  The  historian  may  say 
that  there  is  scarcely  anything  amid  all  his  duties  that 
he  looks  l)ack  npon  with  so  little  satisfaction  as  the 
nsing  of  his  words  and  influence  to  induce  those 
men  to  join  tfie  rest  of  the  regiment,  thongh  none  were 
required  to  accompany  him  except  such   as  volunteered. 

It  was,  in  a  large  measure,  the  volunteering  of  those 
sick  men  to  add  theii'  failing  strength  to  the   next  move 


NEW     HA.MI'SHIKK    NOUXTKEUS. 


125 


tliat  rendered  the  scene  so  i»atljeric  that  it  nevei'  can  be 
forgotten  by  the  executive  officer  of  the  regiment  to  his 
dying  day. 

The  next  moi-ning,  Marcli  twentieth,  we  were  ordered 
at  ten  o'clock  to  strike  tents  and  be  ready  for  an  iuiiue- 
diate  advance.  Tn  this  condition  of  ex])ectancy  we 
remained  hour  aftei-  lioui'  until  near  four  o'clock  in  the 
aftei-noon.  when  the  order  came  so  suddenly  tiiat  the 
line  was  forming  while  men  were  l)uck!ing  on  theii-  knap- 
sacks and  other  accoutrements. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


RETURN  TO  BATON  ROUGE  AND  EXPEDITION  TO 
BRASHEAR  CITY. 

THERE  liad  been  intiiiiatioiis  that  onr  troops  were  to 
make  another  advance  l)y  way  of  the  Clinton 
road  to  Port  Hudson.  The  liearts  of  onr  men 
sank  at  the  tlionght  not  of  meetinu'  the  enemy  but  of 
the  muddy  bayous  and  cedar  swamps  that  stretched 
between  us  and  that  stronii'Viold  of  the  enemy. 

Having  l)ut  recently  been  in  those  swamps,  Ave  had 
had  the  necessary  experience  and  were,  therefore,  just 
the  men  to  be  sent  there  again;  such  Ave  thought  Avould 
be  the  decision  of  our  superior  officers. 

It  soon  became  apparent,  however,  that  the  contemp- 
lated move  was  to  be  south,  not  north,  and  late  in  tlie 
afternoon  of  March  twentieth  onr  regiment  found  itself 
again  on  its  old  and  filthy  camp  ground  at  Baton 
Rouge. 

Five  days  later,  in  answci-  to  our  a}i])eals,  almost  de- 
mands, foi  another  caiiii>iiig  gronnd,  the  authorities 
oi'dered  oui'  removal  to  a  jioint  overl(M)king  the  river 
and  shaded  by  a  magniticant  groAvth  of  magnolia.    There, 


NEW     H  AMI'SIII  1;K    \  (»I,rXTEERS.  J27 

amid  tlie  song's  t)f  niockini;-  and  other  birds  and  tlie  I'e- 
fresliinti'  shade  of  h)i'ty  trees,  we  ])tissed  some  of  the 
most  deliu'htl'nl  days  of  tlie  entire  canipainii.  Many  of 
the  men  i-allied  sni-i)risingly  ([nick  from  tlie  effec^ts  of 
the  severe  experiences  and  exposui-e  thronuh  wlii(di  tliey 
had  just  passed. 

Among  the  various  duties  (d"  those  days  were  regi- 
mental inspections.  At  one  of  these  an  officer,  a  young 
West  Pointer,  passed  some  very  severe  criticisms  upon 
the  clothing  and  accoutrements  of  our  men.  The 
adjutant  was  not  the  only  one  in  the  regiment  who 
would  have  taken  supreme  delight  in  holding  that  f(dlow 
bodily  under  the  mire  through  which  we  had  nuirched, 
not  until  smothered  to  deatli,  but  until  the  upstai't  had 
learned  something  of  our  l)ai»tism  in  that  dit(di  water 
by  Avhich  our  clothing  had  been  soiled  ])ast  i-edemption. 

Api'il  third  our  encampment  on  those  grounds,  the 
pleasantest  we  had  occupied  since  leaving  New  England, 
was  broken  up  and  we  were  ordered  on  ])oard  the  trans- 
port Ihcn^JJlc  and  pi-oceeded  down  the  Mississi})])i  dis- 
embarking at  Algiers  op])osite  New  Oi-leans. 

Foul-  days  after  reaching  that  place  we  received  orders 
t(t  ])ut  in  stoi-age  all  suri)liis  baggage  which  was  to  be 
left  in  care  of  those  members  of  tlie  regiment  who  were 
too  sick  or  enfeebled  to  make  the  contemplated  ad\'ance. 

Our  late  experiences  had  taught  us  valuable  lessons 
and  ther<d'ore,  everything  that  could  possibly  be  dis- 
pensed with  was  placed  in  the  storehouse.  No  man 
was  disposed  or  foolish  enough  to  take  with  him  any 
relic  or  curiosity,  however  highly    prized  ;    indeed,    all 


128  IIISTOKY    OF    THE    .SIXTEENTH    KEGIMEXT 

extra    clothing   and  many  articles  of   comfort    in    camp 
life  wei'c  ])acked  and  left  behind. 

At  that  junctnre  there  came  to  light  an  illustration  of 
the  i)ei'versity,  almost  total  depravity,  of  human  nature. 
We  are  sorry  to  add  that  the  man  who  furnished  the 
exliil)ition  was  New  Hampshire  liorn  and  l)red,  though 
it  also  should  be  said  that  lit-  enlisted  not  to  light  in  the 
ranks  but  to  take  charge  of  one  of  the  teams  of  the  regi- 
ment. 

In  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as  teamster  he  had 
made  the  discovery  that  whenever  he  chose  he  could 
load  upon  his  wagon  articles,  useful  or  otherwise,  with- 
out having  to  give  an  account  of  tlie  same  either  to  the 
quartermaster  or  any  one  else.  And  he  also  had  learned 
that  he  could  unload  his  team  at  railway  stations  or 
boat  wharves  and  secure  rail  and  boat  transi)ortation  by 
merely  marking  the  goods  and  saying  that  they  were  to 
be  delivered  at  such  and  such  stations  or  ports. 

Though  a  teamster  in  sucdi  ways  could  take  advantage 
of  his  position,  yet  it  was  not  supposed  that  any  one 
would  be  dishonest,  or  at  least  venturesome  enough  to 
use  his  prerogatives  for  ])ersonal  ends,  or  that  goods 
would  be  shipped  exce])t  by  the  order  of  some  army 
officer.  But  here  was  a  man  during  those  days 
when  we  had  been  undergoing  all  manner  of  hardship, 
when  we  had  been  in  danger  of  an  attack  at  any  hour, 
day  or  night,  when  sick,  wounded,  and  dying  men  had 
been  thick  about  us.  who  was  nuiking  on  his  own  account 
pi'ovision  for  the  future.  In  tlie^  words  of  one  of  our 
men  who  made  an  invoice  of  this  enterprising  teamstei's 


NEW     IIAMI'SIIIKK    \(>L('NTEEKS.  120 

possessions  and  i'orai^iiii^s,  —  "lie  had  collected  at  dill'ei-- 
ent  places  articles  enougli  with  which  to  set  ui)  a  junk 
store/' 

Anioni;'  the  iniscelhnieoiis  collection  that  he  intended 
and  fully  expected  to  shi})  North  for  sale,  use.  or  exhi- 
bition were  a  cpiantity  (d*  grai)e  and  canister,  a  twenty- 
four  pound  cannon-ball,  eighty  feet  of  cal)le  chain,  a 
ciuantity  of  cane  fishing  poles  and  knives  for  cutting- 
cane,  the  last  of  which  he  had  nnstaken  for  Coirfederate 
inipleuients  of  war;  there  were  also  in  his  ])ossession 
nineteen  cast-off  muskets. 

He  had  been  successful  in  reaching  Algiers  with  those 
accumulations  of  his  industry  and  forethought,  l)ut 
when  attempting  to  store  them  with  the  baggage  of  the 
regiment  liis  scheme  was  discovered  and  his  heartless 
comrades,  greatly  to  his  mortification,  made  an  exhi- 
bition of  them  on  a  gi'ass  i)lot  near  tln^  store  house, 
charging,  however,  no  admission  fees. 

On  the  night  of  xV])ril  seventh  there  was  no  .slee])  for 
the  officers  of  the  regiment  and  only  little  for  the  men. 
At  an  early  hour  the  line  was  formed,  but  no  movement 
was  made  until  nearly  tea  o'cloidv,  when  we  were 
ordered  on  board  a  train  of  fift<'en  flat  freight-cars  that 
stood  on  the  tracks  of  the  <ireat  Western  railway  and 
then  we  learned  that  our  destination  was  J'l'ashear  City, 
eighty  miles  distant. 

That  the  expedition  was  tol)e()neof  cousidei'alde  mag- 
nitude was  ap}/a]-ent  fi-om  the  fact  that  all  available  troops 
and  army  munitions  and  supplies  were  hurried  on  to  I'er- 
wick  bay  as  rapidly  as   transportation  could  be  seemed. 


180  ITTSTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEP^XTII    REGIMENT  ' 

Tlie  Great  AVeistern  I'nihvav  follows  the  ]\rississi])pi 
river  almost  due  west  foi'  about  twenty-live  miles  and 
then  runs  sonthwest,  at  lirst  past  immense  plantations 
on  whirh  were  large  quantities  of  sugar-cane,  ungathered 
for  hudv  of  lal)()rers,  and  then  for  miles  and  miles 
thi-ough  dismal  swamps  wliere  hundreds  of  young  alli- 
gatoi's  could  be  seen  swimming  in  pools,  sleeping  on 
hummocks,  or  l)asking  in  the  sun.  ^Ve  greatly  desii-ed 
to  engage  in  musket  practice  on  those  fellows,  but  had 
received  em|)hatic  orders  not  to  do  so. 

At  thi-ee  o'(do(dv  in  the  afternoon  we  ])assed  General 
({rover's  splendid  division  of  hghting  troops,  who  after 
leaving  l^aton  Rouge,  instead  of  coming  by  New  Orleans 
as  we  had  done,  had  disembni-ked  at  Donaldsonville 
and  marched  thirty-live  miles  overland,  successfully 
(dearing  that  part  of  the  country  of  several  strong  de- 
tacdiments  of  the  enemy. 

Those  trooi)s  had  been  held  l)ack  until  tlu^  renuiiiuler 
of  the  ai-my  could  reach  Hrasliear  City  in  ordei-  that 
Geneial  Giover,  by  nuiking  a  rapid  march  along  the 
strip  of  land  lying  between  Lake  Palourede  and  Bayou 
BaMif,  towai'ds  Fianklin.  could  cut  olf  the  retreat  of  the 
Confedei'ate  ti'oo])S  should  they  attemi)t  to  escape  noi'th 
when  ]>ressed  l)y  oui'  forces  at  l>(^iwick  bay.  That  i)art 
of  the  cauii)aign  ai>peai-s  to  luive  been  adiuirably 
planned. 

At  Bayou  1>(imiL'  ended  the  car  ri(b^  of  the  Sixteenth, 
of  which  we  did  not  com])hi!ii  though  the  i-oad  was  in 
])oor  condition,  rough  and  out  of  I'epaii-.  and  though  the 
sun's  j'avs  at  times  were  blisterini;,'   hot    and  thouii'h  the 


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NEW   iiA  M  I'siii  Ki:  \()LrxTKKi:s.  i;j:] 

liat  rreii;lit-c:>rs  \\  ei-(^  ^\  it  liout  so  iiiiicli  ns  a  ijiccc  of  board 
for  a  .seat.  Some  of  oiii-  men  were  so  ovcj-coiik^  by  the 
tijesomeness  of  tlieii'  ride  tliat  they  liad  to  be  cai-i'icd 
from  t]ie  cars  and  hiid  on  tlie  i;i'ouiid  by  the  roadsid(\ 
But  we  had  seen  too  nnndi  liardsliip  of  otliei-  Ivinds  to 
utter  one  woi'd  of  eomiilaint  ai^ainst  tlie  uoov  i-aili-oad 
accommodations  afforded  ns. 

After  leaving-  tlie  train  we  mai-(died  al)out  live  mih's  to 
l^rasliear  City,  wliicdi  like  manyotliei-  Soutliern  and  lilve 
not  a  few  AVestern  cities  was  a  small  town,  siudi  as  would 
be  called  in  Xew  Enu'land  a  villau'e. 

There  the  Sixteenth  and  the  Fourth  Massa(diiisetts 
were  detached  from  their  divisions  and  assi^'ned  to  pro- 
vost-ii'uard  duty.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fuller  being  aji- 
l)ointed  "commandei'  of  the  post." 

At  that  time  we  were  living  in  shelter  tents  and  (juite 
contrai-y  to  our  desires  were  forced  to  do  gai'i'ison  <lnty 
instead  of  advancing  Avith  the  other  troops  of  our  divi- 
sion, who  were  soon  to  pursue  the  retreating  enemy  up 
the  Teche  counti-y. 

On  the  nigjit  of  oui'  ai'rival  we  were  ordei'ed  to  be  pre- 
pai'ed  for  an  atta(d\  befor(^  morning  and  wei-e  told  that 
we  must  defend  l>)-aslieai'  City  "titall  hazai'ds."  \\ (^ 
])ut  oui'selves  in  readiness  to  meet  the  enemy,  but  he  did 
not  ajijjcar 

Duiing  tliat  and  sevei-al  succeeding  nights  thei-e  was 
no  slee})  at  all  foi' soiue  of  the  men  and  very  litth^  for 
any  of  them.  Oui'  IxmIs  we]-e  the  gi'ound.  oiii'  tents  a 
piece  of  cot  ton  (doth  ojjcn  at  both  ends,  and  su(di  armies, 
not   of  Confederate   ti'oops  but  of  mos(piitoes.  lilh'd  the 


134  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEOIMENT 

air  afte]'  siiiifall  as  we  did  not  know  could  l)e  mustered 
for  service  anywliere  in  the  world.  They  seemed  to 
come  in  (douds  and  it  was  one  desperate  tiii'ht  for  life 
from  early  eveiiiiii;'  till  mornini;-. 

This  we  endnred  several  nights  until  our  recj^nisition 
fo]-  mos(juito  netting  could  l)e  hlled.  Not  all  our  men 
Avere  supplit'd  at  the  first  issne,  and  the  nnsupplied  ones 
in  some  instances  offei'ed  as  high  as  four  dollars  for  a 
piece  of  this  netting,  though  costing  the  government  only 
a  few  cents;  this  fact  gives  some  idea  of  the  torture  expe- 
rienced by  us  during  the  first  few  nights  of  our  stay  at 
Bi-ashear  C'ity.  Some  of  our  men  in  their  des})eration  and 
at  the  risk  of  smothering  to  death  folded  themselves  up 
in    tent  cloth   and  in  old  sails  found   on    the    wharves. 

Tlie  importance  of  the  defense  of  that  place  to  any 
careful  observer  was  apparent  enough,  for  there  was  the 
base  of  sup])lies.  and  in  <'ase  our  advarudug  columns  in 
the  Teidie  cami)aigu  wei'p  r*:'[)ulsed,  the  safety  of  the  re 
treating  arm}^  would  de}>eiid  largely  upon  the  ])ossession 
by  our  troo})S  of  that  vitally  strategic  i)oint  at  pjrashear 
City.  The  gravity  of  the  situation  and  oui-  responsibility 
in  the  matter  of  defense  were  keenly  felt  by  our  ofliceis. 

Among  other  duties  assigned  us  weie  the  loading  and 
unloading  of  cars  and  transports,  Avhich  }>rov(^d  exceed- 
ingly distasteful  ;  the  care  of  the  sick  of  other  regiments 
Avho  had  be(^n  hd't  there  by  the  advancing  ti-oops  was 
also  one  of  oui-  duties.  'Idiat  service  was  a  })ainful  one, 
and  all  the  more  so  because  other  duties  occupied  almost 
every  available  moment  of  our  time  and  we  had  for 
those  sick  soldiers  n(dthei' liosi)ital  stores,  nor  a  hospital 
building,  nor  even  a  lios])ital  tent, 


NKw    iiAMi'sii  I  i;k   \(>Lrx'rKi:i;s.  lljf) 

Those  sick  :iii(l  dying  men,  without  suitabli^  food,  with 
no  adequate  j)rote('tioii,  bled  :nid  poisoned  by  nios(iiii- 
toes,  breathinii,- an  :i tinosplieriMoaded  witli  niahii'in,  their 
(•h)thinii'  so;ike(l  at  night  with  heavy  dews  and  occasional 
showei's,  and  by  day  their  faces  and  hands  nlinost  l)lis- 
tered  by  the  hot  i-ays  of  the  sun,  were  dying  in  nuinbers 
that  were  startling.  We  wondered  then  and  wonder 
still  if  they  could  not  have  l)een  better  ])rovi(led  foi-. 

We  should  have  done  nioi'e  foi"  them  ourselves  if  we 
could  hiive  l)ouglit  from  the  stores  of  the  town  or  fi'oni 
sutlers  articles  and  provisions  that  would  hiive  been  of 
beneht,  but  our  money  was  gone  nnd  pay  day  had  l)een 
long  delayed. 

Our  journal  states  that  ''April  tenth  was  a  day  of. 
unusual  activity.  Troops  rapidly  were  pushing  forward; 
army  supjdies  were  arriving  from  New  Orleans  and 
were  despatching  to  the  front;  cars  loaded  with  sick  men 
w^ere  arriving  from  New  Orleans  and  were  left  here  to 
grow  sicker  and  die;  at  least,  if  there  were  other 
reasons  for  leaving  them  no  one  could  tell  what  they 
were." 

General  Bank's  headquarters  were  still  on  the  Brash- 
ear  side  of  the  Atchafalaya  bayou.  (leneral  Weitzel 
crossed  to  Berwick  on  the  o])posite  side  l)y  feri-y  early 
in  the  morning  of  A})i-il  tenth,  and  (leneral  Kmoi'y 
crossed  in  the  aftei'uoon  of  the  same  day.  Before  even- 
ing there  was  consi(lei'al)le  liring  while  the  Federal 
troo[)S  were  feeling  their  way  to  Franklin.  The  general 
advance.  how(ner,  did  not  take  place  till  the  next  day, 
April  ele\enth. 


]-)()  IIISTOUY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    T.EdniEXT 

Our  regiment,  iiieanwliile,  was  l)eing  scattered.  Two 
coiiii)anies,  B  and  F,  were  sent  up  Bayou  Atcliafalaya  a 
sliort  distance  to  strengtlien  tlie  garrison  at  Fort  Buch- 
anan. The  object  of  this  gari'ison  was  to  protect  Gen- 
eral Urover's  division  and  also  to  2)revent  a  raid  on 
Brashear  City  from  the  north. 

Company  A  was  sent  on  outi)ost  duty  four  miles  south 
of  Brashear  City  to  guard  against  an  attack  l)y  guerillas 
from  that  quarter. 

A  number  of  men  belonging  to  Company  C  nnder  com- 
mand of  Lieutenant  Wilkins  of  Company  I,  every  com- 
missioned officer  of  Company  C  l)eing  at  that  time  sick 
or  on  detached  duty,  were  sent  across  the  bayou  and  then 
west  on  an  untracked  but  i)artially  gi-aded  railroad  bed 
to  report  on  the  feasibility  of  establishing  an  army  tele- 
graph line  in  that  direction. 

The  following  spicy  account  of  that  expedition  is  given 
by  one  of  the  men  in  these  words  :  "We  crossed  the 
bayou  to  Berwick  by  boats  from  guubt)at  Arizona,  and 
being  in  heavy  marching  older,  we  borrowed  a  mule  and 
a  horse  cart.  To  this  cart  Ave  harnessed  the  mule  and 
into  it  we  loaded  onr  knapsacks  and  all  our  luggage 
except  our  rifles.  AVe  started  np  the  graded  railroad 
bed  wlii(di  ran  through  a  heavy-timbered  swamp.  There 
were  deep  ditches  full  of  water  on  either  side  of  ns. 

We  proceeded  in  this  way  till  we  came  to  a  break  in 
the  road-bed  filled  with  water,  too  wide  and  deep  to 
cross.  Having  no  pontoon-bridge  with  ns,  and  nothing 
with  which  to  build  a  bridge,  we  were  obliged  to  return 
to   Berwick,    which   we   reached    early   that    evening, — 


NEW    HAM  PSIII  KK    VoI.T  XTEEKS.  1  o7 

tliniiks  to  tlie  mule  mid  cai't.  Tlie  ditches  each  side  of 
this  lii'aded  railroad  were  wide  and  deep,  and  the  snakes 
:ind  alliii'atoi's  weie  very  ninii'^rons. 

On  our  w:iy  out  we  were  very  (juiet,  ns  the  Re])S  niiii'lit 
discover  us  :ind  cut  off  our  return.  ]^ut  on  tlie  way  l)aclv 
to  F)er\vi(ds:  w<'  indulged  oui-selves  in  shooting  liuge 
snakes  aud  alligators.  1  shot  one  snake  and  four  alli- 
gators. On  rea(diing  Herwi(dv.  wliich  wns  quite  a  village 
of  deserted  houses  and  one  hotel,  we  found  no  iidinbi- 
tnnts  liere  except  two  or  lliree  sick  or  wonnded  Hel)s  in 
tlie  houses  and  so  we  took  possession  of  the  vacant  ho- 
tel and  making  senrch,  discovered  a  cistern  of  good 
Avater  and  some  iron  kettles. 

We  made  a  iii'e  in  a  l)rick  lireplace,  and  soiue  of  the 
l)oys,  with  the  nid  of  negroes,  br-ought  in  their  i)ant  legs 
tied  up  sweet  })otatoes  in  cpiantity  from  n  i)lantarion 
near  l)y  which  the  darkies  had  told  ns  of.  We  pnt  on 
the  kettles,  and  soon  had  all  the  good,  boiled  sweet 
potatoes  we  conld  eat.  and  as  none  of  ns  had  liad  a 
potnto  for  a  long  time,  we  were  in  good  condition  to 
appreciate  them. 

After  satisfying  our  hunger,  pipes  w^ere  in  order,  and 
with  our  heels  on  tlie  railing  of  the  verandah,  with  not 
a  man  on  gna]<l.  with  the  full  moon  shining  as  only  the 
Southern  moon  in  that  latitnde  can  shine,  we  enjoyed 
oui'  surroundings  and  situation  to  tlie  fullest  extent. 

l^ater  we  seh^-ted  our  several  rooms,  and  lying  on  our 
blankets  (rhe  furniture  in  this  hotel  was  gone  except  a 
fcnv  (diairs  and  boxes  we  used  for  seats),  we  sle})t  the 
sleep  of  tired  l)oys  till    some  one  woke  up  al)oiit  mid- 


188  ITTSTOIJY    OF    THE    STXTKENTU    IM:(inrKXT 

niglit  and  woke  all  Mie  rest,  saying,  '  I  am  liiingi  y.'  '  So 
say  we  all  of  ns,'  was  the  response. 

The  kettles  were  once  moi'e  tilled,  lire  made  np,  nnd 
another  snpper  of  sweet  potatoes  was  enten  followed  bj^ 
pipes  as  before,  and  we  thought  we  conld  then  sleep  till 
morning,  which  we  did.  We  hnd  breakfast  of  sweet 
potatoes,  and  then  signaling  the  Arizorra,  she  sent  a 
l)oat  for  ns.  and  we  retnrned  to  onr  regiment  and  com- 
pany." 

The  companies  of  onr  regiment  that  were  not  on 
detached  dnty  l)ur  were  still  at  Brashear  City  and  also 
those  at  Fort  r)nchanan,  were  constantly  in  expectation 
of  a  raid  by  guerrillas  or  an  attack  by  Confederate  gun- 
boats that  were  just  above  ns  on  the  bayou. 

The  Queen  of  tlic  ^Ve-st^  one  of  the  enemy's  lioats.  or 
rather  one  of  ours  that  had  l)eeu  captured  l)y  the  Con- 
fedrates,  was  of  sufficient  armament  and  strength  seem- 
ingly to  send  our  entire  fleet,  then  at  Brashears  City  to 
the  bottom,  had  an  attack  been  made. 

After  the  main  armj'  was  on  the  way  up  the  Teclie 
road  and  near  Franklin,  the  Queen  e>f  the  West  and  her 
escorts,  as  had  been  expected  would  be  the  case,  were 
seen  slowly  di-()])piug  down  the  river  toward  Fort 
Buchanan  with  the  manifest  intention  of  taking  it  and 
also  of  I'ecapturing  Brahear  City.  TIad  she  succeeded, 
l)oth  fort  and  town,  with  all  the  stores  in  them,  would 
have  been  ca[)tured,  the  base  of  sui)plies  cut  off,  and  a 
retreat  of  our  ainiy  across  Berwick  Bay  to  Brashear  City 
and  to  New  Orleans  wonld  have  been  out  of  the  question. 
There  was,  as  can  easily  be  imagined,   no  little  tiepida- 


H 

ID 


O 


O 

O 


o 
u 

Qi 
UJ 

Q 


N>:w   HAM  I'sii  I  i;k  \ oltxtkeks.  141 

tiou  imioiii;"  tliose  who  iindei'stood  tlic  jxM'ils  tliiit 
tlireateiied  iis  when  the  Qinuvn.  of  ilie  TFr-s^  was  seen 
n])i)i'(»a<'liiim-  tlie  fort. 

l)iit  Oaj-ifniii  I).  1*.  rptoii,  as  he  was  calhMl  l)y  us  (and 
he  was  in  every  way  wortliy  of  the  title,  thou.uii  only  a 
lientenant-comniander),  was  not  asleep. 

By  a  belt  of  trees  his  boat  was  well  concealed  from  the 
Confederate  fleet.  He  ordered  his  gunners  to  (dear  the 
decks,  and  to  open  Are  the  moment  the  enemy's  boats 
ai)peared  in  full  siglit.  This  they  did.  ])Ut  th«^  shots 
went  wide  of  the  mark.  The  Confederate  captain, 
meanwhile  did  not  dei,t;ii  to  waste  his  ammnnition  on 
onr  little  craft.  Captain  lii)ton,  l)ecoming  im]»atient 
with  the  poor  marksnmnshi[t  of  his  ij;-unners,  said,  ''Let 
me  si^ht  that  gun."  He  did  so  and  the  shell  flew  on  its 
way,  landed  in  the  magazine,  and  instantly  a  part  of  the 
Queen  of  the  West  went  into  the  air  ;  she  was  set  on  lire 
and  after  floating  a  little  distance  sank  on  the  l)ottom 
of  the  bay  on. 

The  other  l)oats  of  the  Confederate  fleet  w^ere  in 
dismay.  They  wondered  w  hat  sort  of  ordnance  our  fleet 
w:is  using;  and  he(Mling  the  nnixim  tliat  discretion  is 
the  better  ])ait  of  viiloi'.  they  were  next  seen  steaming 
as  rapidly  as  possible   up  the  bayou  till  lost  fi-om  sight. 

Tt  was  the  privilege  of  the  Sixteenth  to  coJidnct  the 
famous  Captain  Fuller  of  the  Queen  ef  the  Wed  to  its 
guard  ([uarters.  The  fallen  commander  seemed  (piite 
dazed  at  his  ca|)ture  and  the  loss  of  his  boiit  at  a 
moment  when  he  was  perfectly  sure  of  i)laying  havoc 
with  the  Nineteenth  army  coi'ps,  wdii(di  seemingly  wouhl 


142  TIISTOIIY    OF    THE    STXTEEXTII    1;T:GTMENT 

liave  l)e'en  the  case  l)ut  for  that  fortunate  sliot  of  tlie 
Arizona . 

Oiii'  lioys  also  that  day  placed  under  guard  eighty 
otliei'  Confedei'ate  prisoners,  among  whom  were  Captain 
h5emmes.  an  a('Comi)lished  artillery  officer,  son  of  the 
commander  of  the  Ahilxima,  and  Ijieutenant  A'incent, 
said  to  l)e  the  ohicer  who  not  long  before  had  ordered 
his  men  to  tire  upon  unarmed  Tnion  prisoners  in  tiie  city 
of  Richmond. 

The  hghting  meantime,  near  Franklin  had  been  severe, 
1)11 1  on  the  whole  the  Federal  troops  were  having  the 
advantage.  During  the  three  days,  l^eginning  April 
fourteenth,  there  were  thirteen  hundred  piisoners 
bi'ought  into  oui"  lines,  many  of  whom  were  badl_y 
wounded,  (lur  legiment  had  not  a  little  to  do  in  guard- 
ing and  caring  for  those  men. 

The  Union  troops  that  suffered  most  during  those 
three  days  were  the  Twenty-sixth  Connecticut,  and  the 
One  Hundi'ed  Fifty-ninth  New  York,  whose  wounded 
men  on  reaching  Brashear  City  came  under  our  care. 

The  loss  in  the  first  mentioned  of  those  two  regiments 
was  fearful  and  sickening.  In  a  single  engagement  the 
c(;loiiel  was  shot  throngh  the  mouth,  and  subsequently 
died;  the  lieutenant-colon(d  and  adjutant  were  both 
killed  outi'ight  ;  and  fully  half  the  men  wei-e  killed  or 
mortally  wounded. 

That  fatality  was  all  the  moiv  distressing  because  it 
easily  could  h:iv(^  Ixm'u  prevented.  If  only  a  few  men 
had  been  de])loye(l  on  the  left  flank  of  these  two  advanc- 
ing retiiments,    the  concealed  (Confederates  a\  ould   have 


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Infantry  behind 


XXXXXXXXXXX 


HEDGE,    NOTDIS-     XXXXXXXXXXX 
COVERED. 


XKW    1IA^[  I'siii  i;k  voLrNiKKiis.  145 

])een  discovered  and  tlif  slaiiuliter  }>rf'vpnted. 

The  nccompan villi;'  diiiurain.  wlii(di  was  fiiniislied  to 
the  adjutant  l)y  one  of  tlic  wounded  (Jonfedcrates,  will 
make  tlie  inattei'  perfectly  clear. 

As  will  be  seen,  the  (confederate  troo])S  that  were  in 
ambush  at  the  left  had  tlie  'rweiity-sixth  (Connecticut 
conq^letely  at  its  mercy. 

AVe  may  add,  too,  that  if  the  .lieneral  i)lan  of  lliis  cam- 
paiiiii  had  not  miscarried,  the  fatality  of  these  troops 
and  other  losses  incurred  while  niovini;-  np  the  Teche 
country  would  have  lieen  })revented. 

The  intention  of  (General  Banks  appears  to  have  been 
to  ca])tnre  the  entire  Otnfederate  force  at  some  point 
near  the  town  of  Franklin  ;  and  except  for  somebody's 
tricdv  or  l)lunder  this  could  have  been  easily  done. 

The  facts  are  these:  On  th<'  tenth  of  April,  as  we  have 
seen,  Generals  Weitzel  and  Emory  had  crossed  the 
bayou  from  Brashear  City  to  Berwick  Bay,  and  on  the 
eleventh  began  their  march  towards  Franklin. 

Weitzel  was  to  keep  well  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy, 
while  Emory  was  to  think  him  on  the  left.  Meanwhile, 
as  already  suggested  Grover,  by  a  qnick  and  unsus- 
pected move,  was  to  cross  the  bayoii  at  a  point  :il)ove 
the  enemy  and  cnt  off  his  retreat  north.  But  owing  to 
some  misdirection,  (Tiovei-  had  moved  his  division  to  an 
nnfordable  place  on  the  bayou,  and  therefore  had  to 
connterinarcdi  l)efore  crossing  it.  'idiose  unfortunate  and 
needless  movements  and  delays  enabled  the  enemy  to 
discover  the  intention  of  ({rover,  and  l)efore  he  reached 
Franklin  where  he    was    lo   co-o]»erate    with    the    other 


146  lltSTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMEKT 

divisions,  the  Confederates  Avere  quietly  and  safely  re- 
treating towards  Xew  Iberia,  fighting  while  on  the  way, 
and  doing  our  troops  all  the  damage  they  could. 

The  a('('onii)anying  diagram  will  aid  the  readei'  in 
following  the  movements  we  have  l)een  describing: 

After  the  three  divisions  under  AVeitzel,  Emory,  and 
Grover  had  foimed  a  junction  they  followed  the  retreat- 
ing Confederates  as  far  as  Opelousas.  about  one  hundred 
and  fifteen  miles  north  of  Berwick,  at  whi(di  place  Gen- 
eral Banks'  army  went  into  camp  from  April  twentieth 
to  May  fifth,  or  in  other  words,  they  went  into  the  busi- 
ness of  giving  assistance  and  })rote('tiou  to  those  who 
were  gathering  cotton,  sugar,  and  molasses,  and  ship- 
ping them  to  Brashear  City  and  New  Orleans. 

That  doubtless  was  a  legitimate  business,  but  wliether 
our  troops  should  have  been  delayed  for  such  a  ^Hirpose 
is  a  grave  question. 

An  order  of  not  a  little  rhetorical  merit  issued  by 
General  Banks  at  that  date  will  be  of  interest  to  our 
readers,  and  is  such,  perhaps,  as  will  justify  a  departure 
from  the  design  we  set  forth  in  the  preface  namely  that 
we  would  not  take  the  reader's  time  to  give  in  this  his- 
tory the  text  in  full  of  the  various  army  orders  issued: 

Headquarters  Department  of  the  Gulf. 

Near  Vicrmii.uionville,  April  19,  1S63. 

General  Order  No.  28. 

The  morning  salute  celebrates  tlie  anniversary  of  the  battles  of  Lexing- 
ton and  Concord  in  1775,  and  the  assault  upon  American  troops  at  Balti- 
more in  1861.  The  day  is  consecrated  to  union  and  liberty.  Soldiers,  you 
have  exhibited  your  devotion  to  its  hallowed  memories  and  the  principles 
it  represents.  In  peace  you  contributed  in  every  professional  and  indus- 
trial pursuit  to  the  prosperit)^  and  power  which  gave  a  world-wide  renown 
to  the  American   states.      In  war  you   have   learned   to   endure    fatigue. 


NEW    HAM  PSIinn:    VOLUNTEEKS,  149 

suffered  deprivations,  conquered  difficulties,  and  achieved  victories.  In 
three  months  you  have  become  soldiers  ;  you  have  defeated  the  eneni\-, 
dispersing  his  army  and  destro3-ing  his  navy.  In  twenty  days  30U  have 
marched  three  hundred  miles,  fought  four  engagements,  expelled  him 
from  his  fortifications,  driven  him  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  from  Bei- 
wick  City  to  Opelousas,  captured  ten  guns  and  two  thousand  prisoners,  in- 
cluding some  of  his  best  officers  of  all  arms,  and  made  the  reorganization 
of  his  forces  for  the  present  impossible,  by  depriving  him  of  all  the 
material  resources  of  war,  destroying  his  foundries,  and  demolishing  his 
salt  works,  that  for  two  years  have  sustained  the  life  of  the  Confederacy. 

The  nav}'  of  the  Gulf  shares  in  the  honors  of  the  campaign.  It  has 
encountered  and  dispersed  the  fleet  of  the  enemy,  and  sunk  the  Queen  of 
the  West.  To-day  it  will  reiluce  the  fortifications  at  Butte  a  la  Rose  and 
open  the  Atchafalaya  to  the  Red  river  and  Cortableu  to  Washington,  of 
Louisiana. 

Let  us  be  grateful  to  Jlim  who  giveth  us  the  victory  an<l  true  to  the 
cause  we  defend. 

New  glories  are  Ijefore  us.  The  army  of  the  Gulf  will  command  the 
attention  of  the  people,  and  every  eye  will  be  fastened  upon  its  move- 
ments. Let  us  be  true  to  the  flag  we  bear,  and  remember  that  •'  to  defy 
danger  is  to  drive  it  into  the  ranks  of  the  enemy." 

B}'  command  of  Major-Genkral  Banks. 
Richard  B.  Irwin,  A.  A.  G. 

Prior  to  these  movements  np  tlie  Teclie  coniitry  tliere 
had  been  communications  l)etween  Generals  Grant  and 
Banks  as  to  a  co-operation  of  the  two  armies  in  the 
rednction  of  Port  Hudson  and  A^icksbui;!;-  and  tlie  clear- 
ini;'  of  the  river  between  tliese  two  ])oints. 

Tliose  measures  liad  Ix'en  strenuously  urg'ed  by  the 
authorities  at  Wasliiniiton,  (xenei-al  llalle(d\  l)pinu- 
especially  emphatic  in  the  expression  of  his  desii'e  to 
have  the  two  armies  operate  in  conjunction.  ]3ut  owinii* 
to  the  detention  of  our  troops  at  0})elousas,  and  also  in 
conseqnence  of  a  hick  of  definiteness  iu  some  of  the 
verbal  dispatches  and  l)y  reason  of  delays  in  the  ti'aiis- 
mission  of  some  of  the  wiitten  ones,  the  pi-oposed  schenie 
fell  through  and  Gj-ant  ke[)t  all  his  troo])s  at  N'icksburg 
and  Banks  was  left  to  manceuvre  his  as  best  he  couhl. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 


CAPTURE  OF   FORT  BURTON,  AT  BUTTE  A   LA   ROSE. 


TIIK  territory  lyinii'  west  of  tlie  Mississi])pi  and  south 
of  ()i)elonsas,  called  the  ''paradise  of  the  south/' 
souietiuies  "the  garden  of  the  south"  together 
with  its  numerous  waterw^ays.  had  heen  looked  upon  as 
valuable  helds  of  conquest  for  the  Union  Army. 

As  early  as  October  of  the  pi'evious  year,  1802,  (len- 
ei'al  Ijutler  htted  out  an  expedition  to  secure  control,  if 
l)Ossil)le,  of  that  part  of  Louisiana. 

A  fleet  of  hve  vessels  sailed  from  New  Orleans,  entered 
Atchafalaya  Bay,  followed  up  the  bayou  or  river  bearing 
the  same  name,  and  entered  Bayou  Teclie. 

For  the  [»urpose  of  co-operating  with  this  fleet,  (General 
Weit/el  Avith  hve  ]-egirients  at  the  same  time  crossed 
the  Mississii>pi  at  Donaldsonville,  and  after  two  or  thi-ee 
l)attles  with  the  Confederates  reached  Brashear. 

l)iit  the  country  was  found  to  be  so  well  defended  and 
tliei-e  were  so  many  obstacles  preventing  the  navigation 
of  Bayous  Teche  and  A  tcha  f;ilaya  that  those  umle]-- 
takings  foi-  the  subjugation  of  the  Confedei'ates  in  that 
section  of  the  state  were  foi-  the  time  aliandoiied. 


NEW    IIA.MI'SIII  1;E    VOLrXTKEKS. 


151 


(xeiiei-nl  P)iitl('r  ;i  few  weeks  latei-  w;is  sii^xTscded  l)y 
General  Hanks  who  after  takiiiu'  coniniand  of  the  aiaiiy 
was  e(|iially  iiiii)resse(l  with  tiiH  (h'sii^ableness,  if  not 
necessity,  of  o('<'iij)yiim- that  iiiipoi'taut  ttn-ritory  :  accord- 
inu'ly  late  in  tiie  nioiitli  of  .laiiiiary  iie  oi-uani/ci]  two 
ex])pditions.  one  nnder  General  Weitzel  witli  four  tlious- 
and  men,  whi(di  was  to  niovenj)  the  Teehe  country  I'roni 
Berwi(dv,  and  the  othei- uiid<n- (xeneral  Enioi-y  wilh  thi-ee 
tlionsand  men  to  move  np  the  At(diafalaya  fioiii  the 
same  })lace.  They  were  ordered  to  o})prate  in  coujiiuc- 
tion.  and  capture  Fort  Bui'ton  at  l)Utte  a  la  Hose  and 
(h^stroy  its  I'ortihcatious. 

But  owinu'  to  dilliculties  in  securini;' suital)]e  ti'ansjxtr- 
tatiou,  and  owiuu'  to  the  supi)Osed  stren.u'th  of  tlie  I'orti- 
lications  at  Butte  a  la  Hose  and  the  numl)er  of  the 
garrison,  that  expedition  likewise  was  ahandoned. 

But  now  that  onr  troops  were  advancing  u})  th<^  Teche 
country  it  bpcame  necessai-y  to  undertake  again  the 
pi'ojfct  that  had  been  twice  abandoned,  namely,  tln^ 
(deai-ing  of  the  Atcliafalayaof  all  Confederates  and  if 
possibh^  the  capturing  of  Butte  a  la  I'ose  ;  for  wliih'  the 
enemy  h^ld  that  point  not  oidy  was  our  advancing  army 
iiupi'iilh'd.  but  thfM'<'  would  1).'  unintHi-ru])t('d  na\iga- 
tion  for  the  ( 'onf<M|prat(\s  Ix't  ween  Red  I'wci  aiid  Brasliear 
(Uty.  which  if  [(ossililc  should  }>'.'  jirevented. 

in  the  a<ljutant's  joui'iial  is  this  nofe\  dated  April 
lifleenth  :  •'Tlu'  inlt'iiiia  t  ions  are  that  our  i-cginient  will 
garrison  this  ))lac('  I  I'i-ashcar I  until  oiii-  l<'rni  of  cidist- 
nient  expii'i^s.*" 

But   on  the   morning  of  A[)ril   eighteenth,  three  days 


152 


IIISTOIIY    OF    THE    SIXTEEXTII    HEOniENT 


later,  we  received  oi'devs  to  put  tlie  regiment  in  readi- 
ness for  marchinu'  at  a  moment's  notice.  Acco^dingi^^ 
at  noon  we  were  relieved  by   tlie  Fourth  Massachusetts. 

Our  regiment  witliout  delay  was  organized  into  a 
l)attalion  of  six  companies. 

Company  officers  wlio  were  aV)le  to  rei)ort  for  duty 
were  assigned  comnmnd  according  to  their  rank,  in  this 
new  organization. 

Meantime,  the  boys  weie  busy  pre[)aring  their  outfit. 
They  were  ordered  to  supply  themselves  with  one 
day's  rations  and  one  hundred  rouiuls  of  ammunition. 

When  the  order  came  to  "fall  in"  they  were  ready 
and  marched  to  the  pier,  wlience  they  Avere  to  de|)art  on 
an  important,  and  Avhat  Avas  considered  perilous  mis- 
sion. The  other  four  companies,  being  on  detaclied 
duty,  from  which  they  could  not  then  be  relieved,  were 
to  follow  a  few  days  later. 

AVe  were  distributed  on  four  gunboats  tluit  had 
received  orders  ''  to  ])roceed  up  Bayou  Atchafalaya  to 
clear  it  of  obstructions  and  of  Confederate  gunboats, 
and  to  nuike  an  attack  on  Butte  ;'i  hi  Hose."  If  the  at- 
tack ])roved  successful,  the  Sixteenth  was  to  be  left  to 
garrison  and  defend  it. 

The  fieet,  consisting  of  the  gunboats  CJifloii.  Arizona, 
Cdlhoan,  and  E.strclhi^  was  under  the  command  of  A. 
P.  Co(dv.  The  nuijor  and  adjutant  were  assig)ied  duty 
on  tlie  Arizona,  the  courage  and  l)rilliaucy  of  whose 
connnander  already  were  well  known;  the  lieutenant- 
colonel  was  with  Connnander  Cook  on  the  Extrella. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  whole  couutrv  for 


Vermillion  Bay 


NEW    IIAMPSIIIKE    ^■OJ.  T  NTEERS.  155 

Hfty  miles  west  of  the  Mississippi,  incliidiiii;-,  therefore, 
tlie  territory  of  wliich  we  are  now  speaking-,  is  covered 
with  countless  bayous,  lakes,  livers,  and  swamps  that 
cross  and  connect  with  one  another,  many  of  tliem 
during  the  season  of  high  watei-  l)eing  easily  navigahle 
for  boats  of  considerable  draught. 

At  the  time  of  which  we  aie  writing,  the  Atcdiafalaya 
was  navigable  from  the  gulf  of  Mexico  to  Red  river, 
and  as  suggested,  Butte  a  la  Rose  was  the  key  to  those 
various  connecting  bodies  of  water  and  to  the  entire 
country  lying  l)etween  Opelousas  and  Poit  Hudson  on 
the  north,  to  the  (xulf  of  Mexico  on  the  south,  to  the 
Mississix)pi  on  the  east,  and  to  the  Tetdie  country  on  the 
west. 

The  accompanying  map  gives  an  idea  of  the  number 
of  the  larger  and  navigal)]e  bayous  in  the  i)art  of  Louisi- 
ana of  which  we  ai'e  speaking;  l)ut  aside  fi'om  those 
there  were  numberless  snuillei'  ones. 

Tn  sailing  up  the  Atchafalaya  and  across  its  (diain  of 
lakes  and  connecting  V)ayous,  nothing  eventful  happened 
during  the  hist  day,  which  was  Api'il  eighteenth.  Just 
befoi-e  daiiv  on  the  evening  of  that  day,  near  the  head 
of  (Irand  Lake,  tlu-  Hag  ])oat.  Esfrella.  signalled  the 
othei's  that  they  were  to  tie  up  foi'  the  night.  She  alone 
cast  anchor,  the  otheis  as  a  i)]-ecauti()nary  and  utility 
lueasnre  were  mooi-ed  to  her  l)y  hemp  hawsei-s.  Should 
thei-e  be,  as  was  somewliat  exi)ected,  a  night  attack  fi'om 
the  (*onfede]-ate  gunboats,  ^\ilich  were  just  above  us, 
the  hawsers  etisily  could  be  slii)pe(l  and  the  boats 
quickly  l)]-ouuht  into  position  for  action. 


156  JIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEEXTH     r.E(UMENT 

At  nine  o'clock,  as  an  additional  precaution,  every 
liglit  on  the  boats  was  extinguislied  or  shaded  :  but  the 
night  passed  without  anything  of  importance  transpiring. 

At  daybreak  we  were  moving  and  early  passed  through 
Cliene  ba^^ou  into  a  lake  of  the  same  name.  The  country 
was  found  everywlierc  titxxled,  in  conseciuence  of  un- 
usual high  water,  caused,  it  was  said,  by  cuts  in  the  Miss- 
issippi that  (Irant  had  made  in  his  effort  to  ca})ture 
Yicksburg. 

The  scenery  along  the  margin  of  that  bayou,  as  had 
been  that  along  the  shores  of  (Irand  Lake  and  othei- 
bayous  the  d;iy  before,  was  monotonous  and  uninspiiing. 
The  heavy  foliage  of  the  trees,  the  immense  growth  of 
moss,  the  dense  undei-growth  of  vines,  biMisliwood  and 
saplings  alforded  the  littest  place  in  the  world  for  "  the 
slimy  pathway''  of  moccasin  and  rattle  snakes  and  for 
the  stealthy  cree})ing  of  numberless  alligatoi'S,  turtles 
and  other  reptiles,  but  was  a  miserable  enough  place  for 
men  whose  birthplace  had  been  on  the  shores  of  the 
transparent  streams  and  lakes  and  among  the  granite 
mountains  of  New  llamjjshire. 

Tlie  vapoi'ous  atnios})liere  and  ti'opical  cloud-dra})ery 
of  that  section  of  Louisiana,  apart  from  their  novelty, 
were  after  the  first  few  hours  (piite  destitute  of  interest. 

Tn  the  advance  the  gunboat  Clifton  was  in  the  lead, 
l)ut  at  nine  o'clock  she  met  witli  an  accident  by  I'unning 
into  a  tree  aiul  dro}>ped  back  for  repairs.  The  Arizoiid 
meanwhile  took  the  lead.  Near  noon,  being  within  two 
miles  of  Butte  a  la  Rose,  she  was  nnide  fast  to  a  tree  and 
we  waited   anxiouslv  for   the   cominu'  of    the  rest  of  the 


A   GLIMPSE   OF   GRAND    i.AKE. 


SY.W     II  AM  PSIIIKK    VOLrXTEEKS.  I  oi) 

lleet  tluU  li:i(l  Ixm^m  dt^aiiied  l)y  reason  of  the  accid(Mit  to 
the  ai'iflon. 

Coiiiniander  rjjtoii  was  desii-ous  of  iiiakiiiii,' an  alta<d\ 
on  l>utte  a  la  Hose  alone,  and  nntst  of  oni'  men  were 
willino'  if  not  over-anxions  that  he  shonld  do  this.  iJnt 
liis  orders  fr(jni  the  cantious  yet  geiieronsdiearted  (*a})- 
tain  Cook  were  ex])li('it  ;  he  nnist.  therefore,  await  the 
coming  of  the  other  boats.  As  they  did  not  ]»ut  in  an 
ai)pearance,  tlie  Arlzotia,  late  in  the  afternoon,  dro])pe-d 
down  the  bayou.  l)ut  in  doing  so  beeanje  unmanageable  ; 
a  strong  current  swung  her  against  a  tree  and  smashed 
the  wheel-house. 

At  length,  in  a  somewhat  dila])idated  condition,  she 
reached  the  renniinder  of  the  lleet  at  the  head  of  Lake 
Chene.  Here  the  boats  were  moored  for  the  night  in  a 
manner  similai'  to  that  of  the  night  before. 

The  chief  matters  of  interest  during  the  day  wei-e  tlie 
difficulties  of  navigating  the  tortuous  bayous,  the  shoot- 
ing of  two  of  our  gunners  l)y  (%)nfederate  guerrillas,  who 
were  concealed  somewliere  in  the  sw^amp  and  ])ehind  the 
ti'ees,  and  the  taking  of  two  prisoners  who  were  in 
citizen's  dress,  rather  poor  at  tliat,  and  who  were  ques- 
tioned and  cross-questioned,  bnt  the  information  gained 
was  of  no  material  value. 

One  of  the  men,  who  clainuHl  to  be  a  l^nionist  (of  this, 
ho\v<'ver,  there  was  some  doubt),  after  assuring  ('a.2)tain 
I'liton  of  his  perfect  loyalty  and  thorough  acquaintance 
with  the  entire  country,  was  taken  into  the  wheel-house 
to  assist  in  i)iloting  the  boat. 

At  daybreak,  Ai)ri]    twentieth,  the   boats  were   again 


160  HISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REG^IMENT 

freed  from  tlieir  moorings  and  started  up  the  narrow 
bayou,  the  An'zonc  tliis  time  being  in  tlie  lead. 

Coming  witliin  siglit  of  tlie  fort  at  Butte  a  la  Kose, 
she  dropped  i)aek  by  order  of  Captain  Cook,  and  the 
CZf/^o??,  under  command  of  Captain  Frederic  Crocdver. 
liaving  l)y  far  the  heavier  armament,  It-d  the  tieet. 

Everybody  then  was  in  a  state  of  exi)ectancy.  The 
guns  of  the  fort  and  those  of  the  two  (Confederate  boats 
were  trained  on  our  slowly  advancing  fleet.  We 
moved  cautiously  for  no  one  knew  but  the  Confederates 
had  placed  in  the  l)ayou  dangerous  obsti  uctions  and 
explosives.  We  were  in  danger,  also,  or  at  least  felt 
we  were,  of  ]>eing  picked  olf  by  sharpshooters  concealed 
among  the  rrees  skirting  l)otli  sides  of  the  l)ayou,  who 
had  wounded  one  and  killed  another  of  our  gunners  the 
day  before. 

At  ten  o'clock  the  'M)all  opened"  with  a  hundred 
pounder  from  a  Parrott  gun  on  the  bows  of  the  Vlifioii. 
From  that  moment  tlie  \vork  was  lively  on  l)oth  sides. 
The  reverberations  of  the  larger  guns  among  those  dense 
forests  skirting  the  narrow  channel  were  deafening.  The 
rapid  discharge  of  muskets,  too,  showed  that  our  boys 
were  doing  in  earnest  their  part  in  the  assault  on  the 
enemy's  works. 

The  Clifton  concentrated  hei- tire  u]»on  the  Confederate 
gunboats,  while  the  Arlzoiio  brought  her  guns  to  bear 
on  the  fort.  Captain  Crocker,  hearing  the  poi't  guns  of 
the  Arizona  and  knowing  that  she  would  take  care  of 
the  fort  without  his  helj).  began  a  chase  up  the 
l)avou  aftei'  the  i-etiring  Confederates,     Meantime,  both 


Near  Br.tle  a  la  Rose;    Bi  sliwhaLkers  Firin^^   on  Federal  Transpt)rts. 


NEW    irA:\I  I'SIIIKK    VoLFNTEEUS.  1(51 

the  el  if  (on  niid  Arizona  sent  tlieir  bi'ondsides  of  grape 
from  tlir  sl;irl)():u(l  gnus  into  t  lie  foi'ests  to  keep  in  check 
any  lui'king  gnerrillas  tliat  niigiit  be  concealed  there. 
Shell,  gi'a])e,  and  s]iliei'i('al  case  were  flying  in  every 
direction  where  an  enemy  was  likely  to  l)e  concealed, 
thongh  the  fort  and  Confederate  gunl)oats  received  far 
the  larger  pai't  of  our  attention. 

While  in  close  ([uarters  with  the  enemy,  a  well-aimed 
solid  shot  from  the  foi't  struck  the  walking  l)eam  of  the 
(Jliffon.  She  was  thought  at  tirst  to  be  completely  dis- 
abled, l)ut  fo]-tnnately  this  was  not  the  case.  That  was 
tlie  last  shot  of  the  enemy.  Tiider  oui'  I'apid  and  (dose 
tiring,  the  Confederates  could  not  reload  their  heavier 
guns,  and  soon  Ave  saw  their  flag  pnlled  down  and  a 
white  Hag.  or  rather  rag,  i-aised  in  its  place. 

The  (.*(fU{ou//  ixnd  the  Estrvlhi  next  came  into  position  ; 
bnt  all  that  was  left  for  them  to  do  was  to  take  formal 
possession  of  the  fort. 

The  Clifton  and  Arizona,  withont  waiting  for  orders, 
started  in  pursuit  of  the  two  Confederate  l)oats,  the 
Wehh  and  Mary  7'.,  which  soon  after  the  attack  began, 
had  taken  flight.  l>ut  within  twenty  minutes  they  mys- 
teriously were  lost  fi'om  view,  excepting  tlie  smoke  fliey 
left  l)ehind.  Our  sliells  were  sent  after  them  and  an 
occasional  broadside  was  dis(diargeMl  into  the  forests  in 
re])ly  to  the  shar])shoote]'s  who  now  and  then  sent  us 
theii-  gi-eetiiigs  in  (he  sha])e  of  Minie  balls  without,  liow- 
evei',  doing  our  Intat  mu(di  (hiinage. 

Those  conceah^d  enemies  wei-e  especially  dreaded  l)y 
both  oil)'  l)oys  and  the  nnirines.     Kven  the  fearless  L'pton 


KVi  TTTSTOin'    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    RECIIMENT 

was  seen  involuntarily  to  duck  liis  head  as  the  crack  of 
the  ritle  was  heard  and  the  bullets  went  whistling  j^ast 
liim.  Those  "swamp  devils,"  as  the  bo^'s  called  them, 
took  their  stand  behind  some  huge  log  or  tree  or  among 
its  branches,  fired  their  deadly  rifles  and  the  next 
moment  were  in  perfect  hiding. 

The  Clifton,  being  somewhat  disabled,  soon  gave  up 
the  chase,  but  the  Arizona  continued  until  we  were 
twelve  miles  ux>  the  bayou,  bej^ond  Butte  a  la  Rose,  and 
still  nothing  but  the  smoke  of  the  Confederate  boats 
could  be  seen,  whi(di  weiv  then  sailing  well  to  the  west 
of  ns. 

Soon  it  dawned  upon  Captain  Upton  that  we  had  been 
fooled  by  that  tall,  lank  Louisiana  (Yankee)  whom  we 
had  taken  on  board  the  day  before,  avIio  pretended  to  be 
a  Unionist,  who  appeared  to  be  honest  as  the  days  were 
long,  who  claimed  to  know  thoronghly  every  waterway 
in  the  state,  who  was  allowed  to  pilot  us,  and  who  con- 
fessed at  length,  that  a  bad  mistake  had  been  nmde,  but 
that  he  was  entirely  innocent. 

We  believe,  however,  what  he  did  was  a  very  clever 
scheme  attempted  and  carried  out  to  prevent  the 
capture  of  the  Confederate  boats.  This  man  had 
allowed  himself  to  be  taken  piisoner  the  day  before 
by  the  foremost  boat  of  the  fleet,  judging,  no  doubt, 
that  it  would  also  lead  in  the  pursuit  of  the  Con- 
federate boats  if  they  were  com])elled  to  take  flight 
during  the  flght  at  Fort  Burton.  In  this  he  had  judged 
correctly.  The  Arizona  was  the  fastest  l)oat  in  the  fleet 
and    had    taken    the    lead.       As   the  irr/x'y  and   Mart/  T. 


H 
m 

O 

> 

H 
C 
PO 

m 

O 
-n 

DO 

C 


NEW   HAM  I'siii  i;k   volintkers.  105 

sailtnl  np  flu'  bnyoii  under  cover  of  snioke  tliey  passed 
into  a  iiairow  chaiiin'l  that  tiii'iied  sharjily  to  the  left, 
while  tlie  Arizona,  wlii(di  (|ui(dv]y  i'oHowed,  l\ept  on  in 
wliat  appeared  to  l)e  the  main  (diannel,  l)nt  I'eally  was 
not.  Tlie  (diannel  taken  l)y  the  Confederates  wriS  the 
main  one,  while  tlie  one  taken  by  ns  was  Bayou  Ala- 
])ama,  an  unimportant  sti'eani,  whicdi  after  nieandeiini;' 
for  several  miles  aiid  becoming  unnavigable,  reacdies 
again  Bayou  At(diafalaya. 

At  hist  the  Rebel  re})orted  to  the  captain  that  owing  to 
shoal  water  he  could  go  no  further.  This  was  true, 
though  the  other  things  said  by  him  we  think  were  lies. 
We  now  had  lost  so  much  time  that  we  could  not  I'eturn 
to  the  point  of  de])aitnre  and  renew  the  i)ursuit  of  the 
Confederate  boats,  wliicdi  already  were  miles  away. 

After  putting  our  lately  self-constituted  i)iIot  under 
arrest,  Captain  l'])ton  regretfnlly  headed  his  boat  for 
Butte  a  la  Rose.  On  the  way  down  we  landed  on  a 
plantation  belonging  to  a  Confederate,  Davis  by  name, 
who  had  been  a  banker  in  New  Orleans,  but  was  then 
serving  in  the  treasury  department  of  the  Confederacy 
in  Ri(dimond.  His  estate,  one  of  the  few  then  out  of 
water,  fnrnislied  excellent  foraging  ground.  There  were 
fowl,  sheep,  small  catth%  swine,  arti(des  of  household 
fnrniture,  guns,  and  other  usefnl  articdes  that  wei'e  ap- 
pro}>riated  without  restrictions,  for  I'anks'  headtpiarters 
were  now  far  away,  and  his  staff  officers  could  no  longer 
forbid  t  h(^  ex<'cution  of  intcMiiational  military  foraging 
laws. 

On  re;i(dii]ig  Fort  l^)nrtoiM\e  landed  and  took  ])ossession 


1()(5  HISTOID'    (»F    THE    SIXTEENTH    UEaiMEl^l' 

of  better  l)ai'racks  tlian  we  liad  seen  since  our  enlistment. 
They  were  more  roomy  and  more  substantially  built 
than  those  at  Concord,  or  than  those  in  New  York. 

There  were  sixty  Confederates,  including  hve  com- 
missioned officers,  who  were  made  prisoners.  Under 
guard  of  men  detailed  from  Comj^any  A,  Lieutenant 
Cooper  commanding,  those  juisoners  were  sent  to 
Algiers. 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  stupidity  or  perfidy  of  our 
pilot,  we  certainly  sliould  have  overtaken  and  captured 
the  two  Confederate  gunboats,  that  afterwards  caused  us 
no  little  annoyance  ;  and  also  we  should  have  taken  a 
mu(di  larger  nunil)er  of  prisoners,  for  according  to  tlie 
reports  of  contral)ands  who  had  witnessed  the  fiight,  the 
two  boats  were  crowded  with  thosp  who  had  garrisoned 
Butte  a  la  Rose,  the  larger  part  of  whom  wei'e  young 
business  and  x:)rofessional  men  from  New  Orleans — "the 
fiow^er  of  the  city"  it  was  said. 

We  ought,  however,  to  have  been  satisfied.  We  had 
lost  but  two  men  killed  and  tw^o  wounded,  and  those 
were  gunners,  and  we  had  captured  Fort  Burton,  the 
most  strategic  point  north  of  Berwdck  Bay  and  south  of 
Red  river.  But  for  our  boys  it  was  to  be  an  expensive 
capture.  Its  Confederate  commander,  as  we  stepped 
upon  the  pai'apet,  made  a  significant  remark  to  one  of 
our  officers  : 

•'  You  are  doubtless  glad  to  get  heie,  but  you  will  be 
gladder  when  you  leave." 

No  ])rophet  of  early  or  late  times  ever  has  oft'ered  a 
tiller  i»rediction. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

DETACHED     SERVICE. 
T.      SEi:VI('E    KEXDEKEl)    IJY    (oMI'AXY    ('. 

TTTK  captnin  of  the  Arizona,  of  Avlioiii  \v(^  already 
have  spoken,  D.  V.  U})ton,  the  son  of  one  of 
tlie  ''ro\^al  niei'cliants "'  of  Boston,  Mass.,  is  en- 
rith'(l  to  more  words  of  j^raise  tlian  we  have  s})a('e  here 
to  .n'ivH,  but  we  eannot  refrain  from  saj'ing  tliat  lie  had 
a  heart  brave  as  that  of  a  lion,  and  yet  was  at  all  times 
a  courteons  gentleman  except  to  cowards,  and  in  the 
thickest  of  a  fight  was  always  conspicuously  present  and 
at  all  times  x^erfectly  composed. 

He  had  studied  our  boys  on  the  way  up  the  Atchafa- 
laya,  saw  their  metal  when  under  lire  during  the  light 
and  capture  of  Fort  Burton,  and  asked  for  a  detachment 
of  the  Sixteenth  to  accompany  him  while  opening  the 
Atchafalaya  to  the  Mississippi.  Accordingly,  a  part  of 
Company  C,  under  comnumd  of  Lieutenant  Edward  J. 
O'Donnell,  was  detailed  to  go  with  this  exi)edition. 

The  Arizona  sailed  u})  the  bayou  on  the  foi-enoon  of 
Api-il  twenty-eight,  and  three  days  latei-,  May  lirst, 
joined    Farragut's  fleet  on   the   Mississi[>pi,  above   I^)i-t 


170  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Hudson.  May  tliird,  a  part  of  the  fleet,  including  the 
ArizoiKt,  started  ii|)  E.ed  river  to  Alexandria,  bnt  on 
acconnt  of  obstrnctions  at  I)e  Russie  and  because  of  an 
attack  from  masked  batteries,  the  senior  commander, 
the  ca2)tain  of  the  xinsti'dlia,  ordered  tlie  fleet  to  with- 
draw. 

It  turned  out  afterwards  that  the  Confederates  had 
ordered  an  evacuation  of  tlieir  works  and  under  cover  of 
smoke,  at  tlie  very  time  our  l)oats  withdrew,  were  spilv- 
ing  tlieir  heavier  guns  and  rolling  the  snmller  ones  into 
the  river.  The  Confederate  gunl)oat  Mary  T.,  loaded 
with  cotton,  had  been  set  on  Are,  and  the  Wd)l)  in  the 
flght  had  been  disabled.  A  little  more  })erseverance  or 
persistence  would  have  secured  a  notal)le  victory,  instead 
of  one  that  is  hardly  worth  the  mention. 

Re-enforced  l)y  some  of  Admiral  Porter's  rams,  which 
had  run  the  fortifleations  at  A'icksburg,  the  fleet  returned 
the  next  day  to  I)e  Russie,  meeting,  however,  no 
opposition. 

The  Arizona  then  proceeded  to  Alexandria,  reaching 
there  nearly  twenty-four  hours  in  advance  of  the  other 
boats,  and  our  men  of  the  Sixteenth  had  the  satisfaction 
and  honoi'  of  raising  the  I'nited  States  flag  in  that  city, 
in  the  face  and  eyes  of  Confederate  citizens  and  within 
sight  of  a  com})any  of  Confederate  cavaliy.  wlio  were 
too  nuiny  for  our  few  nu-n  to  ('aj)tu]'e. 

A  few  days  hiter  the  .1 /•/jryy/^/  sailed  for  Harrisburgh 
which  is  on  I'oMilf  river,  one  of  the  tributaries  of  Red 
river,  and  U>y  two  days.  May  tenth  and  (deventli.  our 
men  were  uudtM-  hie  at  Foit  Heauregard.      l)iit    tliat  foit 


NEW     HAM  I'SIII  I;K    VdLrXTKKRS.  171 

was  so  well  dei'eiHled  and  admirably  located  that  it  could 
not  be  taken,  except  by  a  land  force  of  consideial)le 
iniiiil)ei's.  and  tliei-efoi-e  the  tleet  returned  to  Alexandi'ia 
May  twelfth. 

They  were  those  detached  men  of  our  regiment,  too, 
who  formed  an  escort  for  (Tcneral  Dwioht,  May  sixteenth 
to  twenty-second,  at  the  time  he  went  to  (Trand  Gulf, 
Miss.,  to  carry  despatches  and  to  hold  a  conference  with 
Genei'al  (li'ant. 

After  their  return,  they  were  assigned  })i'ovost  guard 
duty  at  St.  Francisville.  A  little  later  imi)ortant  des- 
patclies  between  the  staff  officers  of  General  Grant  and 
those  of  General  Baidvs  wei'e  carried  under  the  escort  of 
oui'  men. 

It  will  l)e  conceded  that  this  detacdiment  of  Gcuupany 
C,  dui-ing  its  brief  absence  from  the  regiment,  j)erformed 
a  great  variety  of  important  services  and  from  all  repoits 
it  is  evident  that  those  services  were  rendei'ed  in  a 
thoroughly  satisfactory  manner.  The  detachment  left 
the  regiment  April  twenty-eighth,  and  returned  June 
fourteenth.  ' 

II.     SEKVK   K    UEXOKKKI)     BY     ('(»MI'A\V     (i. 

As  already  stated,  the  country  surrounding  Fort  I'lir- 
ton  and  up  and  down  the  Atchafalaya  was  occupied  and 
scoui'ed  by  lU'l)el  guerrillas  who  wei'e  I'eady  at  all  times 
to  fall  upon  any  lone  deta(diments  of  the  rnioii  army, 
and  who  were  constantly  tii-ing  upon  unarmed  traiis- 
poi'ts  ])assing  uji  or  down  the  I'iver. 


I  Tlie  autlior  is  indetjted  for  lliese  facts  largely  to  Comrade  Ilolt,  who 
was  with  the  (letachiiieiit. 


172  TilSTOllV    OF    TlIK    SIX'I'KKN  I'll     IIFJinfEXT 

Not  many  days  after  our  arrival  at  Butte  a  la  liose, 
the  steauier  Louisiana  Belle  on  tlie  way  down  the  rivei', 
having  on  board  a  large  nunilier  of  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  who  were  being  taken  to  the  hosjiitals  of  New 
Orleans,  called  at  Kort  Burton  foi-  assistance,  having 
been  tired  u]K>n  a  few  miles  above.  The  captain  of  the 
l)oat  was  mortally  wounded. 

This  act  of  the  Confederates  that  seemed  to  our  men 
dastardly  and  cowardly  roused  their  indignation,  and  the 
captain  of  (Jompany  Ct,  George  W.  Bosworth,  anticipating 
that  the  next  l)oat  coming  up  the  Atchafalaya  would  call 
at  Fo)-t  B)urton  for  a  detachment  of  soldiers  to  assist  inde- 
feMidiuii- the  l)oat,  went  immediately  to  regimental  head- 
quarters and  asked  the  privilege  of  2:terforming  such  serv- 
ice if  it  were  required.  On  May  thirtieth,  the  anticipated 
requisition  was  made,  and  Captain  Bosworth  received 
orders  to  go  on  board  the  steamer  Union  with  all  the 
available  men  of  his  company.  Quite  a  number  of  the 
company  had  been  sent  to  the  hospital  and  several  were 
on  picket  duty,  so  that  there  were  but  twenty-eight  wdio 
could  respond  to  the  call.  The  remainder  of  the  account 
of  this  expedition  will  be  given  in  the  w^ords  of  Captain 
Bosworth  : 

''There  was  a  large  quantity  of  bags  of  oats  at  Fort 
Burton,  which  were  taken  on  board  the  steamer  and 
utilized  as  a  breastwork  on  the  lower  deck  in  the 
rear  of  tlie  l)oat. 

'•The  pih>t  liouse  was  pl'ote('t^'d  l)y  seven-inch  scjuai-e 
timlters,  and  sheets  of  boiler  iron  with  poi'tlioles  cut 
through   them.       We  were  ready    to  start   at    half  past 


XEW     IIAMP^HIUE    \()MXTEKUS.  173 

twelve  o'clock,  Sunday  uioniiiiL;',  May  fwenry-l'ourtli, 
and  2)roceeded  u})  the  idver  or  bayou,  intendiu.^'  to  ,<;•()  as 
far  as  Sininiesport.  Here  we  exjjected  to  diseHd)ark  and 
return  to  the  regduient  on  the  next  boat  down  river. 

"  Wlien  we  arrived  at  Siuinieh;i)oi't  about  dai'k  Sunday 
niuht,  the  i)la('e  which  liad  been  held  by  a  detachment 
from  Jjanks'  army,  we  found  to  our  g]-eat  disappoint- 
ment to  liave  been  al)andoned  on  that  very  day,  the 
ti'oo})s  haviiii;-  proceeded  to  join  the  main  l)ody  of  the 
army  in  the  investment  of  Port  Hudson. 

"The  Rebels  who  were  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
Simmesportwe  expected  would  enter  the  place  probably 
by  daylight  the  next  morning.  We  toolv  in  the  situation, 
aud  not  caring  to  see  the  inside  of  Rebel  prisons,  we 
pursued  the  only  safe  course  left  for  ns,  which  w^as  to 
stay  on  board  the  steamer  that  night. 

"  But  the  next  day  tlie  l)oat  was  ordered  to  proceed  Ji]) 
the  Atchafalaya,  into  the  mouth  of  Red  river,  thence  down 
Old  river  to  Bayou  Sara,  twelv(^  miles  above  Port  Hud- 
son. There  was  nothing  for  us  to  do  except  to  go  with 
her. 

"A  })ortion  of  the  main  ai-niy  already  had  c]'oss<:'(l  over 
and  proceeded  down  to  invest  Port  Hudsou. 

"The  first  duty  of  the  comniande]-  of  (%)mpany  (i  was 
to  repoi'l  to  the  raid\ing  officer  in  the  place,  liow  many 
men  he  had.  how  he  came  to  be  there,  etc.  The  officer 
ill  coniinand  was  Colonel  Ilollabiid  ol'  (general  I'anks' 
staff.  The  iirst  (Question  he  asked,  was  this:  'What 
kind  of  men  have  you  i  Will  they  get  diiink  T  My 
answer  was  prompt:    'As  good   men  as  were   ever  born 


174  IIISTOKY    OF    TJIE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

and  l)rouglit  up  in  the  old  Granite  State.  They  will 
neither  steal  nor  get  drunk.'  'You  and  your  men  are 
just  wiuit  I  want  here  now.  This  is  a  terrible  rebellious 
phice  and  is  full  of  Rebel  women,  who  convey  all  infor- 
itiatioii  possi])le  to  onv  enemies.  The  business  portion 
of  the  town  on  the  river  has  been  hurned,  as  you  will 
see.  There  are  dwelling-houses  a  little  farther  back 
from  the  river  ;  go  and  select  any  house  you  want  that  is 
not  occupied.  Make  your  requisition  for  rations  and  I 
will  apjtrove  it.  Make  your  men  as  comfortable  as  you 
can  and  I  will  give  yon  plenty  of  work  to  do,  keeping 
order.' 

"  The  tiist  thing  we  attended  to  was  to  find  a  house 
that  was  fairh'  well  supplied  with  Avatei-.  AVe  found  one 
that  iiad  two  huge  cisterns,  half  or  two-thii*ds  full  of 
rain-water,  which  came  off  the  house  ;  they  stood  l)e- 
tween  the  main  house  and  the  cook  house.  This  was  a 
big  find  for  our  boys,  for  we  had  not  known  for  weeks 
what  it  was  to  have  a  drink  of  pure  water.  Here  we 
made  ourselves  as  comfortable  as  we  could  under  the 
circumstances.  We  made  our  requisitions  and  drew 
rations,  or  what  rations  we  could  draw  from  the  quarter- 
master. It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  Mississipi>i 
was  com])letely  l)lockaded  at  that  time,  which  will  ac- 
count for  the  shortness  of  our  rations.  We  drew  pork, 
coffee,  hardtack,  and  a  few  candles. 

''  The  quartermaster  said  :  '  If  you  want  any  beef,  get 
it  yourselves.'  We  proceeded  to  do  the  same  to  our 
entire  satisfaction.  AVe  then  began  to  improve  the  ap- 
pearance    of    our    liHadtpiartfM's.     by     cleaning     up     the 


NKW     HAM  I'SIIIKK    VOLFNTKEKS.  1  Tf) 

grounds,  stniighteiiiiii;'  the  posts  and  fences,  and  leaving 
tlie  marks  of  Yankee  thrift  and  ingenuity  about  our 
quarters. 

''On  tlie  evening  of  the  second  day,  a  S(|uad  of  twenty- 
eight  Rebel  prisoners,  taken  from  opposite  Poit  Hudson 
on  the  west  side  of  tlie  ]-iver,  wei-e  sent  to  us  for  safe 
keeping.  One  who  ap})eared  to  l)e  a  leader  among 
tliem,  bright,  smart,  and  intelligent,  said  to  me:  'Cap- 
tain, we  are  hungi'y  ;  we  htive  not  had  a  moutliful  to  eat 
since  morning.' 

"I  replied,  'It  is  impossil)le  for  me  to  draw  any 
rations  for  you  to-night,  and  all  the  rations  I  have  ai'e 
already  issued  to  my  men.  The  food  is  theirs,  and  no 
officer  can  take  it  from  I  hem,  l)ut  I  will  suggest  to  them 
that  they  lend  you  of  theii'  rations,  enough,  at  least,  for 
your  sui)pei',  and  to-morrow  1  will  diaw  rations  and  you 
may  pay  them  back.' 

"T  made  the  suggestion,  and  to  their  credit  l)e  it  said 
that  every  mend)er  of  Company  Ct  responded  and  said 
they  would  divide. 

"  Thej^  sat  down,  prisoners  on  one  side  and  our  men  on 
the  other,  and  we  counted  out  oui-  hardtack,  measured 
out  our  cott'ee  and  a  2)oi-tion  of  all  the  food  we  had, 
sufficient  to  give  the  Rebs,  as  good  a  supper  as  we  our- 
selves had. 

"The  next  day  I  drew  i-ations  for  the  pi-isoners,  and 
they  at  once  paid  l)ack  with  exactness  the  food  they  had 
l)orrowed. 

"After  keeping  these  prisoners  under  guard  sevei'al 
days,  we   became  weary  of   ]^)erforniing   so   mncli    guard 


170  IIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    UE(4IMEXT 

duty,  clay  and  night,  the  prisoners  nnmbering  as  many 
as  ourselves,  and  l^esides  we  had  many  otlier  duties 
assigned  us,  and  therefore  we  concluded  to  place  ou]- 
XU'isoners  under  lock  and  key  in  a  jail  at  St.  Francisville, 
a  mile  and  a  half  distant  ;  and  they  quite  surprised  and 
disgusted  us  by  making  requisition  for  '  a  nigger'  to  cook 
their  rations.  They  were  told  to  cook  their  rations 
themselves  or  eat  them  raw,  just  as  they  pleased,  but 
they  could  have  'no  nigger'  to  do  that  service  for  them. 

"While  we  were  at  Bayou  Sara,  we  were  visited  by  a 
wealthy  lady,  who  begged  us  to  go  out  to  her  plantation 
al)()ut  three  miles  distant.  She  said  that  it  was  very 
humiliating  to  her  to  come  to  a  Northerner  for  help. 
Of  course  we  rendered  her  all  the  assistance  she  needed, 
and  v.hen  we  left  she  urged  us,  as  long  as  we  remained 
in  that  vicinity,  to  come  to  her  plantation  if  we  needed 
anything  in  the  form  of  food  and  we  would  be  welcome 
to  anything  we  desired,  and  added  '  you  must  always  get 
the  best.' 

"One  day,  a  large  transport  steamer  landed  near  us  a 
load  of  contrabands  just  out  of  bondage  ;  she  was  literally 
black  with  human  beings,  and  we  took  them  in  charge. 

"  It  will  be  remend)ered  tliat  the  hmd  is  veiy  flat,  and  a 
little  noise  can,  therefore,  l)e  heard  a  great  way.  It  l)e- 
ing  one  of  our  duties  to  keep  order  and  quiet,  and  hear- 
ing a  good  deal  of  noise  and  loud  talking.  I  took  Ser- 
geant Jones  with  me,  and  we  soon  learned  that  a  pi'ayer- 
meeting  was  in  progress  in  the  open  air.  We  found 
about  three  hundred  conti'abaiids  gathered,  holding  a 
most    fervent    prayer-meeting   and   returning   thanks   to 


H 


.MllU''f*=^^-^     I    'ilP'l'lJI 


NKW     IIA  M  I'SHI  KK    \' (»  L  I' XTEEIJS. 


171) 


(t()(i  that  they  liad  been  (leli\ei-e(l  from  l)Oiulage. 

••  Kiiowiiiij  that  tliey  had  a  haid  iiiarcli  bei'oi'e  tlieiii 
tlie  next  day,  I  ordered  tlieni  to  keej)  (juiet,  lie  down, 
and  rest.  Early  the  next  morning  many  of  them  came 
to  us  for  food.  They  munbered  in  all  about  twenty-lhree 
hundred.  T  do  not  l)elieve  there  was  food  (^nouii'h  anutni;- 
them  all  to  i;ive  a  com foi-table  meal  to  twenly-hv<\  They 
were  started  off  eai-ly  in  the  mornini;'  for  Contraband  cam  j) 
at  Baton  Kouge,  where  they  arrived  aftei- a  long,  hungry 
and  wearisome  march,  escorted  by  a  squadron  of  cavalry. 

''In  about  a  week  we  received  orders  to  pack  u})  and 
be  ready  to  start  for  New  Orleans,  taking  the  prisoners 
with  us.  We  embarked  on  the  steamer  I'^iiion,  where 
we  remained  for  several  days,  waiting  ordei's,  thei-e  being 
several  other  small  steamers  going  with  us.  The  water 
in  the  bayous  we  were  to  i)ass  tlirough,  fell  so  rapidly 
that  it  was  ai)parent,  owing  to  this  delay,  that  we  could 
not  reacli  New  Orleans  by  water.  AVe  were,  thei-efore, 
ordered  to  disem])ai-k  and  ])roceed  to  Port  Hudson  by 
lan(k  .V  foi'ce  of  ca\ali'y  was  sent  to  pi'otect  the  teams 
and    [)roperty  which  we  took  Avith    us  from    liayou  Sai'a,. 

"'Idiis  move  was  made  at  night,  and  we  ari'ived  at  Poi-t 
Hudson  th(^  following  luoi-niug.  AVe  lepoj-ted  to  Oolouel 
Hollabird,  who  immediately  took  us  to  (Tcnei-al  I'aiiks' 
headquarters.  We  were  rigidly  (Questioned,  ami  gave 
(leneral  Banks  all  the  infoi'nuition  [lossible  resi)ecting 
the  people  and  theii-  condition,  stating  among  many 
other  things,  that  wc  had  not  seen  an  ab]('d)odied  IJebel 
since  we  left  Fort  Bui'ton,  all  such  ])eing  in  the  Con- 
federate arm  V. 


180  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

"He  ordered  us  to  proceed  to  S[)ringfield  Landing  in 
the  afternoon,  tlience  by  l)oat  to  New  Orleans.  This  we 
did,  and  delivered  over  our  piisoners  to  the  provost 
marshal  and  reported  to  the  commanding  officer,  General 
Emory.  This  was  Saturday  morning;  we  remained 
until  Sunday,  then  returned  to  S})]-ingfield  Landing. 

"  Lieutenant  Ballon,  wlio  was  in  command  of  the 
balance  of  our  company,  was  to  get  together  the  men 
left  behind  and  to  proceed  to  Spiingtield  Landing.  I 
w^as  ordered   to  return  and   take  command  of  that  post. 

"  Several  of  our  men,  by  reason  of  remaining  at  Fort 
Burton,  and  being  thoroughly  poisoned  by  malaria,  were 
sent  to  the  hospital,  and  quite  a  number  of  them  died 
there.  Several  of  those  who  returned  from  Bayou  Sara, 
by  reason  of  the  hardships  of  that  expedition,  were 
prostrated  with  malarial  fever,  the  commander  of  the 
company  being  among  the  number.'' 


The  historian  already  has  spoken  of  the  sei'vice  that 
the  men  of  Company  C  rendered  in  carryijig  important 
despatches  l)etween  rienerals  Banks  and  Grant.  As  an 
illustration  of  what  that  kind  of  service  involved,  we 
insert  at  this  point  a  rejtort  of  one  of  the  bearers  of  des- 
patches, who  belonged  to  Captain  Boswortlf  s  com})any. 

''It  l)eing  necessary,'"  says  Captain  Bosworth,  ''  that 
Admiral  Fari-agut  should  get  des2)atches  through  to 
General  Banks,  who  was  then  before  Port  Hudson,  one 
of  his  staff  came  to  us  and  asked  if  we  had  one  or  two 
trusty,  energetic,  and  strictly  reliable  young  men  who 
could  be  trusted  to  take  im])ortant  des])atches  tluough 


KEW    HAM  PSIl  I  I;k    \"()I.rXTEKKS.  ISI 

in  tlie  iiiii'lit  to  l^)aiiks"  ]iea(l([iiai'ters,  Ser^^'eants  Aiidv 
Holt  and  Cliarles  .1.  Wriglit  immediately  volnnteerrd 
for  tliat  undertakinii."  The  following  is  Sei-geant  Plolt's 
account  '*of  carrying  those  despatches  from  l>ayon  Sai'a 
to  (leneral  l>anks'  liead(i]iaiteis  in  the  rear  of  Poit 
Hndson." 

"'AVe  were  on  hoard  the  steamer  Union,  at  tlie  village 
of  15ayon  Sara,  when  Caj)tain  Boswoi'tli  asked  foi- 
volnnteers  to  go  with  despatches  from  Admii-al  Fariagut 
to  (xeneral  ]3anks"  headcinarteis.  al)ont  fifteen  miles 
distant.  Seigeant-Afajor  Chailes  J.  Wright  and  myself 
volunteered  for  this  service. 

"  AVe  left  l^)ayoii  Sara  al)()ut  nine  o'clock  p.  m.,  with 
one  horse,  and  procured  another  (in  the  oidinary  way) 
at  St.  Francisville  about  one  mile  from  Bayou  Sara. 

"  It  was  then  near  ten  o'clock  p.  m.  After  a  lonely 
ride,  without  any  paiticular  oi'  startling  adventure,  we 
api)i'oa(died  what  proved  to  he  the  rnion  outi)ost  pickets, 
and  inquired  for  headquarters.  These  i)ickets  Aveie 
unable  to  give  us  any  information  as  to  how  we  conhl 
get  there  :  we,  therefore,  cautiously  felt  oui-  way  as  best 
we  could,  and  soon  discovered  that  we  were  on  the 
extreme  right  of  Port  Hudson.  AVe  found  some  Union 
troops  encamped  rhere.  and  again  made  impiiries.  An 
officer  of  a  New  York  regiment  told  us  the  only  way  to 
reach  headcjuaitcis  was  to  go  backabont  three  miles  and 
then  take  a  load  which  would  lead  down  to  the  east  ])art 
of  Port  Hudson,  aiul  that  somewhere  in  that  vicinity 
were  Banks'  headcpiaiters. 

"Back  we  started,  but  while  passing  a  })i<'ce  of  woods, 


182  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

before  we  readied  tlie  i-oad,  the  Hash  of  a  uiin  and  the 
whistle  of  a  Minie  ball  near  our  heads  convinced  us  that 
all  in  that  vicinity  were  not  friends.  Putting'  spurs  to 
our  lioi'ses.  we  made  our  liiuht  throuiih  woods  and  across 
iields  until  we  reached  the  main  road,  where  we  found 
some  Union  pickets. 

"We  were  soon  directed  to  General  Banks'  head- 
quarters, reaching  there  very  early  tlie  next  morning. 
Witliout  further  adventure,  we  delivered  the  despatches 
to  an  orderly,  who  awoke  General  Banks.  Our  horses 
were  completely  exhausted,  and  so  were  w^e.  We  si)ent 
the  remainder  of  the  night  on  a  pile  ol*  oats  for  a  bed, 
and  rejjorted  to  Adjutant-General  li'win  at  sunrise. 

"The  followinii:  dav  General  Martindale  sent  a  train 
and  a  cavalry  escort  to  Bayou  Sara,  to  bring  down  Cap- 
tain Bosworth  and  all  of  CVjmpany  G  who  vrere  with  him, 
together  with  the  prisoners.  On  reacliing  headquarters, 
we  joined  them  and  went  to  New  Orleans.  I  did  not 
I'ejoin  the  regiment  again  until  it  was  inside  of  Port 
Hudson,  as  I  w^as  detailed  at  Si)ringlield  Landing  to  do 
vidette  duty  and  to  carry  des})atches  to  General  Banks. 
I  made  live  trips  with  important  despatches  from  this 
place  to  his  headquarters.  About  the  twentieth  of  July 
I  rejoined  the  regiment.'' 

TWO    OTHER    J:XPEDITI0XS. 

There  were  two  ex])editions  whicli  in  tliis  connection 
may  be  mentioned  briehy  that  we  may  fuliil  to  the  letter 
the  requirements  enjoined  upon  an  inipartial  and  faith- 
ful historian. 


NEW    HAM  I'Slllino    VUJA  NTKKRS.  183 

Though  ill  order  of  time  tliose  expeditions  shouhl  have 
been  given  an  earlier  ])la('e  in  onr  history,  and  thongli 
in  magnitude  they  may  not  gi<'atly  affect  the  destiny  of 
nations,  still  they  really  m;iy  have  :i mounted  to  (^uite  as 
much  ;is  some  of  the  more  fiuned  uiilitary  ex})h>its  ot" 
our  :ii-iuy  that  cost,  as  these  did  not,  much  ti-easure  and 
many  lives. 

The  iirst  of  the  exi)editions  took  ])lace  in  February 
and  the  second  in  Maiidi,  1803.  We  give  the  account  of 
each  in  nearly  the  words  employed  by  an  army  corres- 
})omIent,  Comrade  H.  AV.  Allen,  Avho  was  one  of  the 
heroic  survivors  in  tliose  undertakings. 

According  to  Comrade  Allen's  stoi-y,  it  was  about  the 
middle  of  February  that  orders  were  received  to  march 
two  or  three  companies  of  the  Sixteentii  regiment  on 
board  the  steamer  SaJIy  List.  The  orders,  as  might  be 
expected,  were  unhesitatingly  obeyed,  and  the  troops 
were  landed  at  Plaquamine,  which  was  between  Donald- 
sonville  and  Baton  Rouge,  a  little  nearer  the  latter  place. 

The  object  of  this  expedition  was  to  subjugate  that 
part  of  the  country  and  open  the  bayou  bearing  the 
same  name.  The  troops  engaged  with  ours  were  the 
Thirty-eighth  ]\Iassa(diusetts,  One  Hundred  Eighth 
New  York,  Filteenth  New  Hami)sliire.  aiul  a  Hliode 
Island  battery. 

Not  finding  the  enemy  in  foi'ce  and  being  IxMit  on 
serving  the  country  in  some  way,  those  ti'oo])s  "  l)or- 
rowed  all  the  molasses  they  couhV  and  the  movement 
was  convei-ted  iido  what  was  known  as  "the  molasses 
candy  exijedition."      ''Although  it  i-ained  just  as  it  did 


184  niSTOUY    OF    THE    StXTEEXTlI    KEGIMENT 

in  the  days  of  Noali,  only  a  little  harder."  says  our 
comrade,  "yet  over  every  canip-tire  was  a  kettle  of 
molasses,  and  soon  the  boys  were  busily  engaged,  doing- 
three  things  at  once,  swearing,  pulling  candy,  and  trying 
to  pull  their  brogans  out  of  the  Southern  soil,  which 
was  knee-deep  in  spots." 

AVithin  a  day  or  two  ''the  object  of  the  expedition 
was  accomplished,''  and  the  victorious  troops  returned 
to  their  several  regiments. 

The  second  expedition  of  the  class  now  under  consid- 
eration was  undertaken  a  month  later.  For  the  facts  we 
depend,  as  in  the  former  instance,  upon  our  Comrade 
Allen,  whose  statements  are  substantially  the  following: 

''Two  detachments,  one  from  the  Fifteenth  and  Ihe 
other  from  the  Sixteenth  ISlew  Hampshire  regiments, 
were  detailed  on  board  a  small  sternwheeled  steamer  to 
go  u])  rather  a  swift-liowing  stream,  which  empties  hiU) 
Lake  Pontchartrain  which  was  some  seven  miles  from 
our  camp  at  the  Parapet;  the  object  of  that  expedition 
was  to  cai)ture  Confederate  commissary  stores  which 
were  tliought  to  be  there.  We  made  little  progress,  as 
our  boat  was  ill  adapted  to  stem  a  stream  having  any 
noticeable  current.  We  })uffed  and  crawled  along  at  a 
snail-like  pace,  hugging  well  all  the  time  to  the  shore. 
Night  came  on  ;  the  weather  was  misty,  and  the  night 
dark.  We  i-an  out  of  wood  and  went  ashore  for  a 
supx)ly.  Having  loaded  uj),  we  cast  oil  and  swung  into 
the  stream. 

"Aftei"  some  houi'S  of  steaming,  we  ran  short  of  wood 
the  second  time,   and   seeini:,'  a   light  on  shoi'e,  hailed  it 


NEW    II  AM  PSIIIIMO    VoLrNTEEKS.  185 

and  asked  if  we  could  get  wood  there.  The  I'eply  being 
in  tlie  affirmative,  we  landed  and  renewed  our  sto(;k. 
Again  we  cast  <»if  and  went  on  our  way. 

"  Towards  morning,  but  while  it  was  still  dark,  we  were 
again  in  need  of  fuel,  and  hailed  as  we  supposed,  another 
light,  in  order  to  get  a  supply. 

''  '  Can  Ave  get  wood  here  i '  we  asked,  '  and  wliat  is  your 
price  per  cord  (  '  The  owner  replied,  '  I  gness  you  can 
have  it  at  three  d(dlars  l)eiir  as  you  fellers  have  got 
wood  liei'e  twice  l)efore  tonight.' 

"The  fact  was  we  had  not  been  over  half  a  mile  from 
that  wood  pile  all  night  long. 

"■When  it  was  light  enough  to  make  observations,  it 
was  api)arent  that  our  vessel  could  not  make  any 
progress  ;  we  therefore  turned  and  regretfully  went  l)ack 
to  the  point  from  which  we  had  started  the  afternoon 
before,  and  '  the  object  of  the  expedition  was  accom- 
plished.' " 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE  GARRISON   OF  DISEASE  AND   DEATH. 

IN  01  R  Narrative  we  now  return  to  Fort  Burton,  at 
Butte  a  la  Rose.  It  will  he  seen  l)y  the  aeconipany- 
iui;-  diagram  that  Butte  a  la  Rose  is  a  sliglit  eleva- 
tion, wliich  is  said  to  have  been  artificially  constructed 
by  the  Indians,  before  the  appearance  there  of  wliite 
men  and  was  resorted  to  as  a  place  of  refuge  when  the 
surrounding  country  was  flooded  during  thesi)ring  over- 
flows. 

Early  in  the  war  Butte  a  la  Rose  was  occupied  by  the 
Confederates,  made  into  a  fortification,  and,  as  already 
snggested,  was  one  of  the  most  strategic  points  in  the 
Sonthwest. 

Southern  Texas  and  southwestern  Louisiana,  when 
seeking  the  water-ways  to  the  u})per  Mississippi,  <»r  to 
the  Red  river  c(nintry,  could  best  do  so  by  entering  the 
Atchafalaya.  l)Ut  as  Fort  Burton  effectually  comman- 
ded that  great  l)ayou,  the  (Jlonfederates  had  determined 
to  hold  it  as  long  as  possil)le.  All  the  nioi'e  anxious 
were  they  to  do  this  because  at  that  time  the  Mississippi 
was  bhxdvaded  by  our  fleet  both  above  and  below  Port 
Hudson. 


O  Opflousas 


Port  Hudson  o 


Barracks 


Bavous 

AMD 
'^WrAM  PS 


New  Iberia 
O 


BUTTE  A  LA  ROSE 

/A  rN  o 
FORT    BURTON 

Wate  r 


Wat  c r  Tr  en c h 

Am  o 
Bri  doe 


Water 


N  y.  w    1 1 A  M  I '  s  1 1  r  li  i:  x  o  l  r  x  t  e  i:  lis .  1 81) 

Wlit'ii  we  took  possession,  Hiitle  a  la  Rose  was  essen- 
tially a  little  island  siii'rounded  for  miles  witli  water, 
exceptin.i;'  on  the  west,  where  land  could  be  re^aclied 
thi'oiigli  a  swamp  at  a  distance  of  live  or  six  miles. 

At  the  north,  also,  there  were  two  or  three  plantations 
on  the  shores  of  the  Atchafalaya  that  were  not  entirely 
under  water;  but  at  the  south,  as  far  as  Brashear  City, 
and  east,  as  far  as  Port  Hudson,  even  the  ai'al)le  land 
was  covered  with  watei'  in  many  places  to  the  depth  of 
from  seven  to  ten  feet,  so  that  the  small,  llat-l)()ttomed 
stern-wheel  steamei-s  Ihat  i)ly  in  those  waters  were  sail- 
ing' at  that  time  throuiih  dooryards  and  ovei"  corn  and 
cane  fields.  Nearly  all  fencing  was  out  of  sight  under 
water. 

Butte  a  la  Rose,  aside  from  being  a  very  strategic  po- 
sition from  a  military  point  of  view,  proved  also  to  l)e 
such  from  several  other  points  of  view.  It  was  the  grand 
lendezvous  of  mosquitoes,  tleas,  wood-ticks,  lice,  lizards, 
frogs,  snakes,  alligators,  fever  bacteria,  dysentery  mi- 
crobes, and  every  conceivable  type  of  malarial  poison. 

From  about  sunset  till  daylight,  the  mosquitoes  came 
ux)on  us  in  dense  battalions.  Had  it  not  been  for  the 
mosquito  l)ars,  tliat  were  issued  to  us  when  we  were 
being  devoured  by  those  pests  at  Brashear  City,  not  a 
man  of  us,  seemingly,  could  have  lived  at  Butte  a  la 
Rose  for  a  fortnight. 

One  of  our  C()rres])ondents  in  wiiting  home  thiiss[M'aks 
of  those  tormentors  : 

''Let  UK'  ]>ay  my  res])ects  to  those  little  winged  co- 
habitues   with    ourselves    of   those   detestable   surround- 


190  IIISTOKV    OF    THE    SiXTEEXTH    REGIMENT 

ings.  These  little  rascals  are  comparatively  civil  and 
respectful  during  the  day,  but  at  the  approach  of  night 
their  scattered  forces  are  heard  I'eturning  from  all 
quarters,  andean  l)e  seen  'massing'  their  columns  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  their  intended  point  of  attack, 
and  pij^ing  up  their  accursed  strains  as  a  kind  of  prelude 
to  combined  assaults  upon  those  whose  blood  they  seek. 

"Denuding  ourselves  of  hat,  blouse,  vest,  and  pants, 
after  a  careful  and  most  wary  tucking  of  the  folds  of  our 
net  under  the  edge  of  the  blankets  and  performing 
sundry  imposing  flourishes  around  our  heads  with  some 
outspread  Northern  paper,  we  slyly  but  quickly  raise  a 
porti(m  of  the  gauze  aforesaid  and  make  a  plunge  within 
its  generous  recess.  Readjusting  the  net  and  straighten- 
ing out  our  pedal  limbs,  we  compose  our  thoughts  and 
listen  with  complacency  to  the  gathering  of  wrath  and 
baffled  malice  from  those  infuriated  bloodsuckers. 

"And  as  we  rest  from  the  heated  labors  of  the  day 
within  the  mazy  fortress,  and  listen  to  the  continuous 
hum  and  buzz  of  those  disappointed  inhabitants  of  the 
swamx^s  and  marshes,  secure  in  our  assurance  against 
their  stinging  lances,  and  think  of  the  blood  that  would 
flow  should  they  succeed  in  breaking  down  our  frail 
barrier,  we  thank  nature  and  art  for  gauze  and  muslin.'' 

For  miles  on  still  nights  the  croaking  of  frogs  and 
hooting  of  owls  could  be  heard,  and  were  at  tirst  amus- 
ing l)ut  afteiwai-ds  distressing.  The  moccasin  snakes, 
whose  bite  is  deadly,  were  so  bold  and  numerous  that 
they  sometimes  had  to  be  shot  out  of  ouj'  pathway  while 
we  were  passing  between  the  barracks. 


PICKET   DUTY    AT    BUTTE    A    LA    ROSE, 


Alligators,  too.  at  iii.^lit  \\liil''  liiiiiti/i;i'  aii'l  killin;^- 
t  lif'i)'  }))■''}'  ke})t  II ))  an  aliiio>t  coiil  innous  spiasliiu^i'.  \s  li  i<'li 
was  doN'I'iil  <'noii;ili  in  t  l)os<?  (lHSolat(M'<*;zioi),s,  an'l  niof(; 
lliari  once  tljOs<;  t  )'<'acii<-)-oiis  an'l  jav<-noiis  civ-mI  u  i<'-  com 
jx'll*-'!  oiii-  j)i'-|<('ts.  who  at  ni^iiit  w'-i*-  not  allovvi-'l  to  liro* 
ii]»on  fiifjjM,  to  rnov  in  n'-ai-  to  oiif   harracks   I'oj-  saf'^ty. 

\\'<'  must  not  ro)o(-i,  jn  this  <'ijiim<'j'atioM  of  p'*sts  that 
u  (,'  iia'l.  n<'v<^rt[i<'](^ss,  sorfi<i  friends  amon;^-  tli<;  ins^Ti  <,]■ 
ralli'-r  r'-ptil*-  famil\-.  uliifh  <,f\<'ii  warri'-d  iis  a;iainst  th« 
ap]))oac|i  of  sriak»'S  an'l  '>tli';)-  \ '-n'lm'jiis  rr<.'atin'(iS. 

We  rii^an  tlie  bri;ilit-';y«''l  an'l  s'x-iabi'-  lit  t  ]«•  lizaj-'is  tliat 
at  times  seemed  almost  as  num«'j'>iis  as  liouse-Jii'-s  in  (>\iv 
Xort}i<'rn  homes  in  summer  tiin<-.  'I'hey  vvouM  jun  'jv<;r 
'>ur  liaiiacks  an'l  cl'^tliin;^.  an'l  iti  many  ways  ap]>eare'l 
to  ])<i  desirous  of  makin;^'  our  aerjuaintanf*;  a/i'l  '•'^jitin;!' 
our  fji''ndslji]>.  At  tim'-s  wlien  we  were  asl'^e'j)  tliey 
woul'i  (\r()\)  into  '>ur  lian'ls  an'l  jday  at  e-ireus  over  '>ur 
faces  if  we  did  not  wake,  or  if  we  would  allow  them  to 
do  so.  The  only  trouble  was  that  their  touch  seemed  a 
little  too  cold  and  slimy  for  solid  comfort. 

Almost  from  the  date  of  taking  j;ossession  of  that  f'^rt 
we  seemed  at  singular  disadvantage.  We  had  no  sutler 
and  scarce!}^  any  sutler's  suj^^lies.  Oui'  sutler  ha'i  g'^ne' 
North  with  the  body  of  his  son,  who  was  kille'l  April 
thirteenth  by  falling  from  the  cars  on  the  passage  fn^m 
New  Orleans  to  Brashear  C'ity.  The  afflicted  fathe'r.  wh'> 
by  his  genial  natun^  ha'l  \\'>n  ';ur  est:e'em.  had  ih'- 
heartiest  sympathy '>f  our /u'mi  wIi'ti  the  death  <>\'  this 
I>romising  lad  was  ann'»iinced. 

As    the    days    wore    on.    we    found    ourselves   without 


104  HISTORY    OF    THE    SlXTEEXTlI    KEGIMEXT 

lemons,  oranges,  or  fruit  of  any  kind,  for  which  we  had  an 
intense  craving  in  consequence  of  the  different  kinds  of 
fever  tliat  liad  begun  to  prey  upon  us. 

'i'he  discomfort  of  those  wlio  were  deprived  of  tobacco 
was  especially  noticeable,  and  any  of  our  readers  who 
have  used  tobacco  for  years  and  then  suddenly  have 
been  deprived  of  it  know  how  keen  is  the  distress. 

The  quids  that  had  been  cheAved  and  even  re-chewed 
were  not  thrown  away,  but  were  dried  and  then  smoked. 
We  do  not  vouch  for  the  statement,  but  recently  we 
were  told  by  one  of  our  comrades  that  some  of  our  tobacco 
users  during  those  days  when  no  fresh  supplies  could 
l)e  had,  would  secrete  the  second-hand  quids  under  the 
flooring  or  among  the  timbers  of  their  barracks  and  then 
stand  guard  over  them  with  a  musket. 

It  became  manifest  after  a  time  that  an  effort  ought  to 
l^e  made  to  furnish  the  men  in  some  measure  with  what 
are  known  as  sutler's  sui)plies.  Accordingly,  for  that 
purpose  the  adjutant,  with  full  powers  but  without  funds 
though  having  some  credit,  was  desj)atched  to  New 
Orleans. 

At  this  point  a  confession  that  we  promised  to  pub- 
lish must  be  made.  On  inquiry  as  to  what  articles 
would  be  of  special  usefulness  to  the  men,  we  w^ere  told 
that  among  other  provisions  a  quantity  of  Hosteter's 
Bitters  should  be  provided,  as  they  would  prove  a  most 
excellent  i)rescription  for  such  of  our  men  as  were  suffer- 
ing from  chills. 

A  stack  of  ivcommendations  extolling  their  merits  and 
enuuiei-atiuii'  the  renmrkable  cures  wrouii'lit  l)v  them  was 


I 


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NEW    IIAMI'SIIIKK    VoUiNTEERS.  IDT) 

I'uriiislied,  and  accoidiiiuly  two  or  three  cases  of  llo.s- 
teter's  Bitters  were  put  on  the  invoice. 

Those  bitters  with  otiierii'oods  reached  ]^utte  a  la  Hose 
in  safety,  and  were  sohl  to  those  who  could  pay  for  them 
and  given  to  those  who  wei'e  without  funds.  I'ut 
some  of  the  men,  who  probably  were  more  (diilly  than 
the  others,  took  overdoses,  and  in  consequence  became 
staggering  drunk. 

The  adjutant  therefore,  had  the'  mortihcation  of  dis- 
covering that  though  he  was  president  of  the  tempei'ance 
society  oi'  tlie  regiment,  lie  had  furnished  almost  pure 
whiskey  to  the  men  under  the  label  Hostetei'"s  Bitters. 
But  as  no  ill  had  been  intended  he  was  not  deposed 
from  office. 

We  not  only  were  Avithout  a  sutler  at  that  time 
l)ut  our  (diaplain  in  consequence  of  sickness  had  gone 
North  on  leave  of  absence  and  our  quartermaster  was 
not  with  us.  and  most  of  the  time  during  our  stay  at 
Butte  a  la  Rose  we  were  without  a  surgeon. 

Dr.  Campbell  liad  died  ;  Dr.  Sanborn  was  North  on  a 
fui-lough  :  Dr.  Fisk,  besides  being  overworked,  had  ))een 
assigned  duty,  if  we  remember  correctly,  at  Brashear  ( Mty, 
and  Dr.  Sleeper,  was  late  in  reporting  though  as  we  recall 
the  facts,  it  was  without  fault  on  his  part. 

Meanwhile  our  men  were  sickening  rapidly  and  dying 
almost  daily.  Had  it  not  been  that  occasionally  a  negro 
or  poor  white  would  come  to  the  gari'ison  with  a  I'ow- 
boat  load  of  fresh  vegetables,  together  with  a  few  berries, 
and  eggs,  and  a  small  (luantity  of  poultry,  which  were 
exchanged  for  coffee  and  tea,  we  must  have  famished  in 


196  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTP^ENTII    KEGIMENT. 

oiir  sick  and  nauseated  concliHoii,  on  sucli  rations  as  the 
government  then  supplied. 

Soon  after  we  took  possession  of  Butte  a  la  Rose, 
"bank  of  the  rose",  an  exceedingdy  attractive  and 
X)oetic  but  as  misfitting  a  name  as  well  can  be  imagined, 
the  waters  in  the  bayous  and  [xxds  sun-ounding  us  com- 
menced to  fall,  thus  uncovering  to  a  tropical  sun  the 
decayed  and  decaying  vegetal)le  matter  that  for  weeks 
had  been  sul)merged. 

The  atmosphere  a  little  after  sunfall  and  on  through 
tlie  night  was  almost  insufferable,  and  our  sick  men 
when  l)reatliing  it  were  conscious  that  every  breath  was 
so  much  more  poison  added  to  their  blood. 

There  must  Imve  been  on  our  rolls  at  one  time  or  an- 
other while  we  were  at  Butte  a  la  Rose,  not  fewer  than 
six  or  seven  hundred  men.  But  under  date  of  May 
twenty-six  the  regiment  could  muster  only  one  hundred 
and  fifty  for  duty. 

It  should  l)e  borne  in  mind,  too,  that  many  of  our 
number,  in  consequence  of  previous  exposures  and  hard- 
ships, were  sick  and  debilitated  when  they  reached  that 
place.  As  would  be  expected,  a  more  pitiful  sight  than 
our  reginjent  presented  during  the  last  two  weeks  of  our 
stay  at  Butte  a  la  Rose  hardly  can  be  imagined. 

Wasted  away  by  various  forms  of  disease,  men  who 
had  weighed  two  hundred  ])ounds  or  more  were  reduced 
to  half  that  weight.  One  of  our  company  officers.  Cap- 
tain Sanl)orn,  Com[)any  E,  whose  ordinary  weight  was 
consideial)ly  above  tAvo  hundred  pounds,  could  not  tip 
the  scales  at  ninetv. 


NEW    HAMl'-SlIlliE    ^()H"^^TEEKS.  197 

Some  of  onr  men  were  covered  with  burning  and  jjain- 
ful  eruptions,  others  were  yelh)w  as  saffron,  others  were 
shaking  witli  ague,  otheis  wei-e  l)loated  with  dropsy, 
and  all  were  sallow  and  emaciated. 

In  person  and  by  letteis  we  had  })leaded  iei)eatedly 
with  the  military  officers  who  had  charge  of  that  west- 
e]'n  department,  to  transfei'  us  from  our  deadly  encamp- 
ment ;  but  this  re})ly  came  ba<dv  as  often  as  the  re(j^uest 
was  made  ;  ''You  know  the  locality;  there  is  ]iot  an 
available  i-eginient  we  can  send  to  relieve  you.  You 
must  stay  until  oui- army  retires  down  the  Te(dieoi-  crosses 
the  Mississippi,  which  we  hope  will  ))e  at  an  early  date." 

They  ought  truthfully  to  have  added, — "  AVe  will  re- 
lieve you  when  we  are  through  shipping  cotton,  sugar, 
and  molasses  to  Xew  Orleans."  No  one  can  deny  that 
the  lives  of  New  Ham])shii'e  men  were  imperilled  for  a 
few  bales  of  cotton  and  hogsheads  of  molasses. 

And  so  we  remained  there  at  Butte  a  la  Rose  until  we 
came  perilously  near  not  being  relieved  at  all,  except  by 
death  or  the  Confederate  troox)s. 

At  this  point  Ave  introduce  an  episode  that  at  least  has 
a  measure  of  importance  l)y  way  of  suggestion. 

April  twenty-sixth,  General  Banks  and  some  members 
of  his  staff'  came  down  the  At(diafalaya  on  the  transport 
Laurel  Uilh  leaching  Butte  a  la  Rose  early  in  the  day. 
After  a  brief  consultation  with  our  officers,  during  which 
we  again  pleaded  for  removal  from  that  fatal  garrison, 
the  boat  proceeded  down  the   bayou  for  Brashear   City. 

As  various  supplies  were  needed  by  the  regiment,  the 
adjutant,  who  at  that  time  was  ex[)ected  to  have  general 


198  IIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEEXTII    KKGIMEXT 

supervision  of  sutlers,  quartei-masteis,  ordnance  officers 
nnd  even  medical  supplies  and  who  already  liad  made 
six  trips  between  Biitte  a  la  Rose  and  Brashear  City, 
again  was  despatched  on  the  Laurel  Hill  with  General 
Banks  for  New  Orleans. 

Not  many  miles  from  l^utte  a  la  Rose  the  adjutant 
noticed  that  a  bayou  new  to  him  had  been  entered.  \{ 
first  he  thought  that  this  course  had  been  taken  to 
secure  deeper  water,  but  it  s(jon  became  apparent  that 
this  could  not  have  been  the  case,  and  rememberino'  our 
misdirection  during  the  mud  nuirch,  a]id  the  })rol)able 
niisdii'ection  that  had  deceived  General  Grover  at  Bayou 
Bo'uff,  and  the  tricdv  x^^'^^y^^l  <^^ii  fl^^  cai)tain  of  the 
Arizona  on  the  day  we  cax)tured  Fort  Burton,  he  became 
uneasy  and  asked  to  see  General  Banks  on  an  important 
matter.     Tlie  interview  was  granted. 

"You  will  excuse  me,  General,''  said  the  adjutant, 
"  but  1  notice  that  this  boat  is  not  on  the  course  usually 
taken  by  boats  going  down  the  river.'" 

"Are  you  sure,"  asked  the  general,  "that  we  are  not 
on  the  right  course'!'" 

"I  am  sure,"  replied  the  adjutant,  '' that  we  are  not 
on  the  course  usually  taken." 

The  captain  of  the  boat  was  called,  and  the  general 
said  to  him,  "Captain,  this  adjutant,  who  has  i)assed 
between  Butte  a  la  Rose  and  B)rashear  City  several 
times,  says  you  are  olf  your  course." 

"Not  quite  that,"  interrupted  the  adjutant  ;  "I  said 
'this  is  not  the  course  usually  taken.'  " 

The  captain  re])lie(k  "1  know  nothing  of  these  waters 


NKW    II  AM  I'sii  I  i;k    \-oLr  \TKKKS. 


]i)l) 


niysell',  but  iiiii  ti-iistiuu'  to   tlic   pilot   niul   ;i   .sti-;ii)ii,ei'  we 
have  taken  nbonid  to  aid  liiiii." 

Already  we  were  in  aiiioni;-  ]o,i;><  and  ,siia,i;'s,  and  llie 
water  ai)})eared  to  l)e  shoaling'.  A  consultation  was  Indd 
in  tlie  wheeldiouse.  'Idie  stran^i^'er,  who  jiKMeiidcd  to  l)e 
a  i)ilot  in  those  waters,  insisted  ujion  i^'oinu'  alicad,  say- 
lug  tliat  the  water  would  soon  deei)en.  But  evei-y  indi- 
cation pointed  otherwise.  After  further  consultation, 
the  boat,  wliose  enginf^  ali'eady  liad  l)ecn  sto])i)ed,  was 
backed  slowly  and  cautiously  until  breadth  of  water  was 
found  sufficient  for  turning.  The  boat  then  put  back  to 
Fort  Burton  and  tied  u])  for  the  uighf. 

There  is  v<My  little  room  for  doubt  in  the  adjutaiifs 
mind,  at  least,  that  that  })ilot  intended  niis<diiel'.  Had 
the  trans[)ort  been  snagged,  and  it  is  a  great  wonder 
that  she  was  not,  for  that  probal)ly  was  the  })ur})ose  of 
oui'  Louisiana  guerrilla  ])il()t,  she  easily  co'.ild  have  l)een 
tired  during  the  night,  and  in  that  wildernc^ss  oT  woods 
and  waters,  with  no  clearing  anywhei-e  in  sight,  twenty- 
five  or  hi'ty  armed  Confederates  in  their  skilfs  without 
mu(di  dihiciilty  could  ha\('  gobbled  up  the  general  coni- 
mauding  the  Nineteenth  Army  Coi'[)S,  together  with  all 
the  staif  acconi})auying  him. 

If  we  remember  correctly,  that  tricdvv  assist;;nt  i)ilot 
was  the  next  day  ]»laced  in  ii'ons  and  taken  to  New 
Orleans. 

More  than  once  after  the  (dos*"  of  the  wai'  ('cneial 
Banks  and  the  adjutant  rtdieai'sed  the  scenes  of  that  day 
and  S}»ecu]ated  on  what  might  have  follo\\"d  had  the 
Ldiiiel  II'ill  run  on  to   a  stumi)   or  had   Ix^mi  mud-stiudv 


200 


IlISTOUY    OF    TJIE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMEXT 


in  tliat  oiit-of-tlie-way  place,  with  Confederate  scouts 
scattered  all  through  the  adjacent  forests. 

We  return  again  to  the  perils  that  confronted  our 
gai'i'isoii  nt  I)Utt('  a  la  Hose. 

Ojjelousas  which  was  nearly  northwest  of  us,  and 
al)out  lifty  miles  distant,  was  taken  and  ()ccu[»ied  l)y  the 
main  Ixxly  of  the  Federal  troo])S  Aj)ril  twentieth. 

After  remaining  there  foi'  two  weeks,  waiting,  as  was 
alleged  afterwards,  to  hear  from  General  (xj-ant,  th(»ugh 
our  troops  wei'e  l)usy  all  the  time  in  forwarding  cotton, 
sugar,  and  molasses  to  New  Orleans,  (reneral  Banks 
moved  on  to  Alexandria,  whi(di  already  had  ])een  ca})- 
tured  by  oin-  fleet  of  giinl)oats.  That  was  a  diflicult  and 
wearis(»me  nmr(di  for  the  troo[)S,  and  why  it  was  made 
was  an  unanswered  question  then  and  is  so  stilL 

Admiral  Porter,  who  had  captured  the  city,  writing  of 
that  cam})aign  says  :  "General  Baid\s  marcdied  a  large 
portion  of  his  army  to  Alexandria  "'  "  "■•  for  wdiat 
purpose  nobody  knows.'' 

Ro  overrun  was  that  part  of  Louisiana  at  that  time 
with  scattered  Gonfederates,  many  of  whom  were  "  a 
nondescript  chiss,  neithei'  soldieis  nor  uneia'illas,  but  a 
sort  of  highwaymen  mounted  on  mustangs,  and  armed 
with  shot-guns.''  ami  so  diiiicult  in  consequence  of  those 
roving  bands  was  it  foi- couriei's  to  cai-ry  despatches  that 
it  had  taken  foiMy  days,  from  Mar(di  tAventy-third, 
to  May  second,  for  (irant  and  ]3anks  to  excdninge  com- 
nninicati(ms. 

In  conse(|uence  of  those  (hdays  and  the  lateness  of 
Banks  in   reaching  Alexandria,    ajjd    pej'iiaps   foj'   other 


NEW    iiA.M  I'sii  I  i;k   voltnteeks.  'AOl 

reasons  Ivuowii  l)ett<M'  to  (ihik^'iiI  flraiit  tliini  to  any  one 
else,  all  intention  on  his  }»ai't  of  seeurinii,'  a  co-opei-ation 
between  the  Thii'teenth  and  Nineteentli  Army  Coi})S  was 
al)an(lone(l.  and  (leneral  I)aid\s  was  left  sin,i;de  handed  to 
lay  siege  once  more  to  Port  Hudson.  /" 

Accordingly,  on  jNlay  foniteentli,  (Irover's  division 
marched  from  Alexandiia  to  Simmesport,  \vlii(di  in  diiect 
line  is  alioiit  fifty  miles  north  of  Bntte  a  la  Hose,  and 
there  crossed  the  Atchafalaya. 

Two  days  later,  Emoi'v's  division,  then  nndei-  com- 
mand of  ({en.  H-  K.  Paine,  followed  and  a  little  later 
Weitzel's  division  did  the  same.  The  entire  force  nnder 
those  three  generals  then  moved  across  the  coimti'y  to 
the  Mississippi  rivei',  and  down  its  west  l)aid\.  al)ont 
twenty-five  miles  to  J5ayon  Sara.  Here  a  crossing  was 
effected,  and  on  May  twenty-fonrth,  the  ti'oops  under 
Generals  (li'over,  I*aine.  and  Weitzel  joined  those  under 
(leneral  Auger,  A\ho  during  the  campaign  n]>  the  Teclie 
counti'v  had  renuiined  in  the   vicinity  of  Port    lluds(»n. 

It  will  be  seen,  tiierefoi-e,  that  fi'oni  May  sixte(-nth, 
until  our  regiment  left  Putte  a  la  Rose,  \\e  wei'e  not 
only  in  the  valley  and  shadow  of  disease  and  death,  but 
were  also  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy's  country  without 
any  military  sup[)ort  whatever. 

No  sooner  had  Ah^xandi-ia  been  evacuated  by  the 
Union  troops  than  the  Couf'-dei-ate,  ]\iajoi--(  General 
"J)ick"  Tayloi'  took  ])osst:'ssion  of  the  city  and  l»egan 
the  reorganization  of  his  forces.  \'cry  soon  between 
three  and  four  thousand  men  were  in  r(:'adiness,  and 
Taylor,     togethei'    with     (generals     Moutoii    and     (Ireen, 


202  IIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

moved  down  and  repossessed  the  Teclie  eountrv.  Those 
forces  were  in  onr  rear  and  still  no  move  had  l)een 
made  either  for  our  release  or  ])rotection. 

At  that  time,  in  onr  weakened  condition,  a  small 
deta(dinient  from  Taylor's  tioops,  say  one  or  tw^o  hundred 
men,  easily  conld  have  capturc^d  ns.  l^nt  })erha])S  he 
tlionii'ht  we  were  safely  cooijpd  up  where  we  were  and 
that  he  wonld  leave  ns  there  till  some  other  day. 

In  the  meantime  the  watei-s  of  tln^  At(diafalaya  were 
constantly  and  rai)id]y  falling,  and  the  river  wonld  not 
be  navigable  ninch  longer.  The  enemy's  sconts  w^ere 
seen  by  onr  pickets  almost  daily  and  heard  almost 
nightly.  Every  available  man  in  onr  regiment  was  as- 
signed to  picket  dnty.  AVe  nmdc  in  that  way  all  the 
show  possible,  thongh  dress  parading,  battalion  di-illing 
and  even  fornml  guard  monnting  long  since  had  been 
dispensed  with. 

Deaths  and  t'nn(^rals  wert'  dislressingly  on  the  increase, 
and  [lieces  of  pine  l)oard  with  lead-pencil  marks  iijion 
them  were  the  only  headstones  and  inscri})tions  that 
conld  l)e  nsed. 

We  had  received  occasioiial  assnrances  from  Iransport 
boats  that  came  np  the  bayon  that  we  were  soon  to  be 
taken  oif.  Bnt  we  waited  day  after  day  a]id  still  no 
definite  ariangeinents  for  our  de[»artnre  a})peai'  to  have 
l)een  made.  AVe  wei'e  at  times  almost  maddened  by 
those  disap])ointments  and  delays.  Had  an  o[>])ortnnity 
])resented  itself,  the  wiitei-  has  no  don])t  that  the  officers 
of  the  regiment  would  have  done  what  they  did  once 
l)efore, — thev  wonld  have  taken   matters   into  thei]'  own 


\y;,  r*H  '■« 


mmm^^jm 


'('0'"  i\\vv-''^''^ii'v\\^^''^'"-''-'=a 


K«pi,m  up  Appearances  at  Butte  a  la  tto=e. 


XKW     II  AM  I'SIIIKK    NOLI'NTEEKS.  ^03 

Imnds  niid  without  oivlcrs  from  any  oik'  would  1iave 
jiio\<m1  1  lie  r(\iiini<'iit  out  of  tli:it  dctcstiible  lioU'.  \\  li;it^<'ver 
tli<'  coiisequeiices  ini^lit  lime  Ix'cii.  IJiit"  escnjx'  l)y  laiul 
was  iiupossiblH.  We  liad  no  ii,uides,  and  rlioiii^li  tlie 
water  was  recediiiii',  the  iniid,  many  feet  in  depth,  re- 
mained. 

May  twenty-seventh,  tlie  small  niinboat  Fj><irelhi,  the 
last  of  tlie  fleet  of  iiiinl)oats  to  descend  tlie  bayou,  called 
at  the  fort  on  lier  way  fiom  Alexandida  to  Brasliear  City. 
Tluit,  seemingly,  was  oiii-  last  chance,  and  the  adjutant 
once  more  was  desi)at(die(l  to  l>rashear  (Jity  to  asc(^itain 
if  anytliing  })ossil)]y  couid  be  done  to  I'elieve  our  regi- 
ment from  its  increasingly  perilous  situation.  On  the 
way  to  Brasheai'  (_'ity,  tlie  captain  of  the  EsircUd  was 
made  fully  aware  of  th(^  helpless  condition  of  the  legi- 
ment,  but  of  course  could  do  nothing  without  orders. 
His  heart,  however,  had  l)een  touched. 

The  staff  quartermaster  at  Brasliear  Cit}'  could  have 
relieved  us  had  he  chosen  to  do  so,  but  he  declined  to 
act  without  specific  orders  from  headquarters,  and  ap- 
parently he  was  not  at  all  desirous  of  receiving  such 
orders.  All  this  was  aggravating  almost  beyond  endjir- 
ance.  In  fact,  the  adjutant  was  neai-ly  wild  with  anxiety 
lest,  after  repeated  efforts,  he  should  fail  in  his  mission. 
The  recollection  of  those  liours  even  now  while  wiiting 
these  i)ages  makes  him  start  to  his  feet  as  if  in  a  night- 
mare. 

The  peril  of  the  regiment,  owing  to  the  rapid  falling 
of  the  waters  in  all  the  streams  and  bayous,  was  increas- 
ing with  every  hour's  delay.       In   making  the  late  pass- 


204  IIlsroHV    OF    THE    SIXTKEXTII     liFJU^FKNT 

n.u'es.  each  of  llic  lariivr  t]-niis])oi1s.  while  ciossin^' the 
cliain  of  shallow  lakes  connected  by  the  Atcliafalaya 
(Irai^s^'ed  l)oth)iii.  and  had  they  attempted  to  sail  a  few 
feet  either  side  of  the  cdiannel  they  would  have  iii'ounded 
or  have  been  snagged.  The  transport  (reorr/c  A.  SJiel- 
(lon  ali'eady  had  strnck  a  snag,  and  saidv  (dose  hj  Fort 
])Ui'ton. 

When  all  tlie  facts  are  taken  into  account,  it  seems 
like  a  most  manifest  providential  interposition  that  tliere 
was  a  young  division  staff  officer  from  ]\Iassacliusetts, 
who,  at  tlie  same  time  the  adjutant  was  pleading  wdth 
those  in  authority  to  save  our  legiment  from  (capture  and 
death,  reached  Brashear  (-ity  ])y  order  of  (xeneral  Emory, 
and  began  to  interest  himself  in  our  behalf. 

This  officer  was  Captain  Alpheus  Hyatt,  lie  was  not 
long  in  coming  into  full  sympathy  Avith  our  situation 
and  almost  commanded  an  expedition  to  be  sent  to 
relieve  us.  It  goes,  ])erhaps.  without  saying,  that 
one  of  the  gladdest  moments  of  the  historian's  life 
was  when  on  board  the  EsircUa.  in  company  with  Cap- 
tain Hyatt,  he  shook  himself  an<l  found  he  was  not 
dreaming  and  that  the  Fj^trclhi  and  two  traiis])orts  were 
really  starting  for  those  impei-iled  comrades. 

At  this  ])oint  we  introduce  a  letter  fioiu  Ca[itaiu  Hyatt 
which  will  make  it  clear  that  the  historian  has  not  over- 
estimated the  ])ei'ilous  position  we  were  in  at  the  time 
of  which  we  ai'e  speaking,  oi'  o\<'rdi'awn  the  disti'ess- 
ing,  almost  ap})alling.  condition  of  our  reginuuit  when 
Butte  a  la  IJose  was  evacaiated  : 


NEW     HAM  I'SIII  1:K    \()LrNTKEUS. 


205 


(^\M  i!i;i  ixiE,  Mass.. 

Jyne  21.  18'.)S. 

•"A  D.ir  TAXT    OF     IIIK    S  I  XT  K  KXTH     1IK(  ;  I  MKXT. 

"NkW     II  A.M  I'SIII  I;K     \'(>LrN'l'KKUS.       .-"■   ■ 

*'  Dkak  Sik: — ^fy  meiiioi'v  of  tli(^  cvncuntioii  of  I)iitte 
a  la  IJose  and  Ww  events  atteii<liii,u'  il"  has  l)epii  k('})t 
deal'  l)y  repetitio]!,  l)iit  of  course  many  of  the  details 
have  faded  fi'oiii  itiy  mind.  Ix'cause  I  have  not  yet  met 
any  one  who  had  ht'cii  an  actor  in  tlie  same  scenes. 

""  I  was  at  that  time  a  captain  in  the  Forty-seventh 
Arassachnsetts  N'oluntepi-s  and  acting  aide-de-camp  njxtn 
the  staft"  of  (leneial  Emory,  who  was  in  command  of  the 
city  and  district  of  Xew  Orleans  and  of  the  tr()o})s  on 
the  west  l)ardvs  of  the  Mississippi  opj^osite  that  district. 

''llis  adjutant-general  gave  me  an  order  to  proceed  to 
Brashear  City  and  then  to  Butte  a  la  Rose  with  three 
steamei's  to  be  procnrcd  at  the  last  named  port,  and  to 
bring  olT  the  gai'rison  at  the  port  of  Butte  a  la  Rose,  if, 
as  was  significantly  bnt  verbally  added,  they  are  still 
there.  Ir  was  nnderstood  in  New  Orleans  that  this 
expedition  might  miscarry,  since  it  was  known  that  the 
( -onft'dci'ates  were  then  })ushing  forwai'd  from  Texas 
with  the  intention,  if  i)racticabh\  of  reaching  the  l);inks 
of  the  Mississip[)i,  and  annoying,  if  not  capturing,  the 
weak  gariison  of  New  Orleans. 

"I  fouiMl  at  Brashear  City  that  the  expedition  was 
looked  upon  as  more  risky  than  it  was  at  lieadqnarters 
in  New  Oi'leaiis.  The  Confederate  pickets  had  ])ossess- 
ion  of  the  ()])p(»si(e  liank  of  the   Atchafalaya  and  would 


2()()  IIISToUV    OF    M'lIE    SIXTEENTH    1IE(;I."\[ENT 

be  cei'taiu  to  note  tlie  (lejKirtiire  of  tlie  steamers.  The 
(piai'tennastei'  at  tliat  place  [l)rashear  City],  in  conse- 
quence of  tliis  opposed  tlie  execution  of  my  orders, 
denying  that  Emory  had  any  rights  in  that  locality, 
which  he  asserted  was  directly  under  (leneral  Ijanks. 
When  this  was  pushed  aside  after  some  hard  talk  and 
some  words,  which  I  do  not  remembei".  he  still  o])})osed 
the  sending  of  steamei'S,  on  the  ground  that  it  was  use- 
less ;  there  were  no  well-protected  boats  ;  it  would  be 
delivering  the  crews  and  the  steamers  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy,  and  so  on.  I  hnally  interviewed  some  of  the 
captains  of  tlu'  boats  and  by  })ro|)er  repi'esentations 
enlisted  the  sympathy  of  one  of  them  and  got  him  to  go 
with  me  to  the  quartermaster  and  volujiteer  his  services 
for  the  attempt.  He  represented  that  the  greatest 
danger  was  the  possible  lowness  of  the  water  which 
might  i)revent  the  return  of  the  boats  when  loaded,  but 
as  he  also  admitted  it  wonld  be  easy  to  judge  of  this  on 
the  way  up  and  possibly  ])rovide  against  it  in  the  load- 
ing ;  this  induced  the  quarternmster  to  grant  the  detail 
of  steamers.  We  left  Brashear  City,  I  think,  on  the 
third  day  after  my  ai'rival  there,  and  this  delay  made 
me  very  anxious  for  the  safety  of  the  garrison  we  were 
to  take  away. 

'"Although  in  fnll  sight  of  the  enemy  at  starting,  we 
were  not  disturl)ed  on  the  way,  and  arrived  without 
accident  at  the  fort.  This  fact  and  the  welcome  nature 
of  the  news  we  brought  are  events  })robably  better 
remendiered  by  the  surviving  soldiers  of  the  Sixteenth 
New  llampshii'e  than  by  myself.     Although  young,  and 


NEW    IIAMI'SIIIRIO    NOJ.INTKKKS.  207 

a  raMier  reckless  y()un<2,-  iimii  at  the  time,  T  can  never 
l'c)i'<;et  tlie  interior  of  that  foil,  the  tents  s^t  upon  tlie 
sides  of  the  dylve  or  load  in  llie  interior,  to  keep  them 
out  of  the  swam}).  1  had  never  seen  l)efoie  fhis  an 
nndiso'uised  swam})  in  tlie  }iarade  ,i;i'ound  of  a  foi-t,  and 
tlie  terril)le  discomfort  and  (hi]i,ii,'er  of  tliis  to  the  tro()})S 
were  obvious. 

"That  any  large  })ro})ortion  of  yonr  regiment  lived  to 
see  civilization  again,  after  such  }n'olonged  seclusion  in 
this  l)lack  h«)le  of  swam[)  si(dvness,  shows  how  tough 
New  llam})shire  constitiutions  are.  The  liirger  numl)er 
of  yonr  men  were  si(ds.,  and  if  T  remember  riglit  there 
were  only  one  hundred  and  twenty-hve  (•a})al)le  of  lieljv 
ing  the  crews  of  the  steamers  to  remove  the  sick,  the 
l)aggage,  and  tlie  gnns.  The  emaciation  and  }>al]or  of 
those  men  working  at  night  alongside  of  the  su]il)iirnt 
crews  of  tlie  steamers  was  very  noticeable.  Their  weak- 
ness was  noticed  by  me  in  the  fact  that,  althongh  doing 
their  best,  they  moved  abont  with  extreme  difficulty  ; 
the  entire  one  hundred  and  tvventy-tive,  though  doing 
their  best,  were  not  able  to  do  one-foiirth  the  work  done 
by  the  crews  of  the  steamers,  who  nnml)ered  fewer  than 
one-half  as  many  as  yonr  men.  I  ought  to  say  here  that 
I  cannot  recall  whether  1  l)rought  n})  three  boats  or  two, 
l)ut  I  fe<d  (}uite  sure  al)ont  tln^  number  of  men.  I  do  not 
rememl)er  whether  we  got  away  before  morning,  bnt  I 
have  a  })icture  in  my  mind  of  a  long  })rocession  of  men 
carrying  the  siidv  on  stret<dieis  and  s})reading  them  out 
over  the  decdvs  of  the  boats,  and  I  distinctly  recall  going 
n})  to  the  })ilot-honse  and  looking  down  u})on  de(d\s  with 


208  IITSTOUY    OF    T7TK    SIXTEKNTII    REGIMENT 

solid  })il('s  of  motionless,  V)l:Mikete(l  men  stretched  out 
straight  on  tlieir  l)acks,  quiet  as  the  dead  tliat  they  so 
ch)sely  resembled.  It  was  the  most  jiitit'iil  and  impress- 
ive picture  of  suffering  that  can  be  imagined. 

*•'  The  uneventful  return  to  IJrashear  City  is,  of  course, 
familial'  to  you. 

"  Yours  respectfully, 

•'  A  LI'IIEIS    llv  ATT." 

Yes,  we,  too,  remember  that  night  scene  ;  few  recol- 
lections of  a  lifetime  are  moi-e  vivid.  And  no  ti'oops  in 
gi'eater  misei-y  and  distress,  ever  i)laced  health  and  life 
upon  their  counti'y's  altar  than  did  the  men  of  the  Six- 
teenth during  the  time  they  garrisoned  that  dreadful 
"black  hole"  of  disease  and  death. 

The  debt  of  gratitude  we  owe  to  Captain  Alpheus 
Hyatt  we  never  can  repay.  Had  it  not  been  for  his  persis- 
tent and  resolute  efforts  in  our  behalf,  and  for  the 
humane  offices  of  the  captain  of  the  Estrella^  we  do  not 
believe  one  of  the  sick  men  of  our  regiment  ever  would 
have  left  Fort  Burton,  and  the  fate  of  the  most  of  those 
who  were  still  able  to  do  duty  after  having  been  cut  off 
fi-om  communication  witli  oui'  army  and  almost  from  the 
outsi(b:>  world,  would  have  been  mo]-e  deplorable  than 
any  one  can  dream  wliois  not  familiar  with  that  doleful 
place. 

There  we  were,  imiJiasoned,  and  without  sup])lies. 
An  escape  through  the  swamps  was  impossil)h\  It  was 
then  the  last  of  May.  The  last  of  July  (xeneral  'I'ayloi- 
returned  up  the  Teche  country.      At  that  time  we  should 


NEW   HAM  I'siii  i;k  ^()l.^^TEKI;s.  2(»1) 

have  been  taken   i)ris(»iit'is.  if  any   of   ns    liad   remained 
alive. 

Again  and  again  we  olVcr  onr  tlianks  to  tlic  ('a|)tain  of 
the  EHtrdla  for  volnntceiing  liis  services,  and  to  ('ai)tain 
Hyatt  for  his  earnest  inteicessions  in  onr  belialf. 


(m/\^^Ya^ 


CHAPTER  XI. 


EVACUATION  OF  BUTTE  A  LA  ROSE  AND  RETURN  TO 
PORT  HUDSON. 

IT  was  two  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  May  twenty- 
eiglitli  that  the  gnnboat  EstreUa  nnd  the  transports 
Come  and  Keppe  stnrted  np  the  Atchafahaya  on 
tlieir  mission  of  rescne.  AVe  reached  Bntte  a  La  Rose  at 
ten  o'chjck  on  the  morning  of  May  twenty-nintli. 

The  letters  written  home  at  that  time  by  onr  men 
attest  their  well-nigh  inexpressible  joy  "when,"  as  one 
of  onr  correspondents  in  a  commnnication  to  a  news- 
paper says,  "we  were  permitted  to  see,  before  onr 
delighted  eyes  laying  across  the  bayou,  the  gnnboat 
and  transports  that  had  come  to  save  ns."  No  wonder 
the  men  were  tilled  with  joy,  for  the  fate  of  prisoners  of 
war  in  the  hands  of  Texas  rangers,  or  certain  death  from 
diseases  then  pi-eyingupon  them,  had  seemed  to  be  their 
inevitable  doom. 

The  dismantling  of  Fort  P^urton  began  immediately. 
But  the  work  was  prosecuted  with  cpiietness  during  the 
day  in  order  to  atti'act  as  little  as  yjossible  tln^  attention 
of  the  Confederate  scouts  who   had   surrounded   us  and 


NEW    IIAMI'SIIIKE    VOLTXTEEKS.  211 

wlio.  wifliiii  ;i  I'pw  (lays  past,  liad  .u'reatly  increased  in 
iiuiiil)ei"s,  boldness  and  activity.  Indeed,  we  feared  an 
attack  at  daybreak  the  next  niornin,i<-  from  those  of 
Tayloi-'s  forces  wlio  liad  Ix^en  left  to  prevent  onr  escape 
into  the  Teche  connti'v  and  who  apjieared  to  be  inakinii,'  a 
move  to  prevent,  if  i)ossil)le,  our  de[iaitiire  on  the  trans- 
poi-ts  that  they  must  have  known  had  come  to  take  us 
away. 

As  darkness  fell  upon  ns  the  work  of  destroying'  the 
fortifications  was  ])ushed  with  as  nnudi  vigor  as  the 
enfeel)led  strength  (d'  oui'  men  would  permit.  In  the 
meantime  the  gunbo:it  Estrdla  had  taken  a  ])()sition 
from  which  she  could  send  her  grape  and  shells  down 
the  roadway  had  the  enemy  appeared  in  force.  Doubt- 
less they  were  those  precantionary  measures  of  the 
E.slrelld,  or  at  least  her  pi'esence  there,  that  2>revented  a 
raid  upon  us  that  vei-y  night  ;  foi"  those  (k)nfederates 
who  were  surrounding  us  had  learned  from  experience 
what  speedy  havoc  a  l)roadside  of  grape  and  canister 
could  nuike  wlien  sent  among  tlienj. 

The  scenes  of  that  night,  the  loading  of  the  transports, 
the  painful  eifoi'ts  of  our  si(dv  ami  enfee])led  men  to  lielj) 
on  in  the  work,  the  carrying  of  the  sick  and  dying  men 
on  board,  already  have  been  so  well  desci-ibed  by  V>{\\)- 
tain  Hyatt  that  they  need  not  in  this  couiiection  be 
repeated. 

At  midnight  we  set  lire  to  all  the  bai'racks  and  made 
preparations  to  blow  \\\)  the  nuiga/ine  which  still  held  a 
large  (pumtity  of  jxtwd^r.  At  that  hour,  too,  we  came 
near  meeting  with  a  serious  accident.     As  alreadv  men- 


212  IIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    UEOIMENT 

tioned,  the  transport  Oeorr/e  A.  SJieldon.,  had  struck  a 
snao-  and  had  been  run  in  ch)se  to  the  fort  where  she  hiy 
partly  submerged. 

Diirini;-  the  day  a  small  transport  called  the  fJnio/L, 
the  last  of  her  class  to  descend  the  l)ayou,  reached  the 
fort,  coming,  if  we  mistake  not,  from  Simmesport,  hav- 
ing on  board  a  quantity  of  cotton.  8he  was  hailed  by 
the  Estrella,  and  in  spite  of  the  protests  and  oatlis  of  her 
captain,  was  pressed  into  service.  Some  of  her  cargo 
was  thi'own  overl)oard  to  make  room  for  oiii-  sicdv  men, 
against  which  her  cai)tain  oifered  additional  protests. 
But  the  guns  of  the  E.streUa  at  that  time  commanded 
those  waters  and  the  captain  of  the   Union  had  to  obey. 

Accordingly  his  boat  had  been  nmde  fast  to  the  i)artly 
submerged  SJieldon  and  was  being  loaded  across  her 
bows,  which  were  the  only  part  of  her  deck  not  under 
water.  Without  a  moment's  warning,  the  SJ/cIdon, 
owing  probal)ly  to  the  sti'ain  that  came  from  the  ropes 
with  which  she  was  fastened  to  the  Union,  partly  tiii'ued 
over  and  slid  into  deep  water. 

As  she  sank,  the  Union,  began  to  sink  with  her;  the 
lines  were  so  taut  they  could  not  l)e  cast  ofl'  and  before 
they  could  even  be  cut,  the  decks  of  the  Union  were 
well  under  water.  She  was  feai'fully  near  being  ca^)- 
sized  with  many  of  our  sick  men  on  board.  But  fortu- 
nately the  ropes  parted  just  in  time  to  save  this 
threatened  catastrophe  in  which  the  drowning  of  several 
of  our  almost  utterly  helpless  men  would  have  been 
inevitable. 

At  len^'th   all   the  nui-n  and  their  belongings  were  on 


?s'K\V     HAM  I'sril  KK    VOLUNTEEKS. 


2J8 


buai'd,  to^t't lit']'  with  the  :ii-iii;niie]it  of  tlic  foil,  mid  the 
IC.sf/r//ff  with  the  three  t  i-;i  ii.s})orts  swim,!!,'  (deiir  of  the 
fort  ;iiid  sh)\vly  (li'o])i)e(l  down  tlie  bayoii. 

'I'wo  of  our  men,  one  of  whom  was  our  lieiileiiant- 
(•oh)ii(d,  remained  for  the  purpose  of  li^lil  iiiii'  'he  fuse 
comniunicatinii'  witli  the  powder  in  the  ma,i;azine.  A  f(^w 
moments  hiter  they  w(U-e  s(^en  in  the  early  grey  of  tlie 
morning  rowing  lapidly  towards  the  transports  and  v,  ei-e 
taken  on  board.  Tliey  liad  lired  the  fuse  and  we  watelied 
foi'  tlie  explosion,  but  iiotliingof  the  kind  folh»\\e(l.  !n 
the  light  of  the  burning  ])arra(dvs,  however,  we  plainly 
saw  the  Confederates  moving  uj)  the  causeway  and  along 
the  <unbankments  of  the  fort.  They  evidently  hiid  been 
wat<diing  all  our  movements,  and  prol)al)ly  extinguished 
the  fuse  within  a  few  seconds  after  it  had  been  lighted. 

imbued  we  can  do  moi-e  than  say  that  they  probably 
di<l  this,  foi- during  oni- regimental  r(Minion  at  the  Weirs, 
August,  1890,  one  of  our  comi-ades,  ('oi-jioi-al  IJand, 
stated  that  he  had  met  a  ( N)nf(:'derate  soldier  who  was 
\\illi  those  w]n)  had  foUowedus  up  that  ni.uht,  intending 
if  ])ossible  our  ca})ture,  and  was  among  those  who  saved 
the  niaii'azine  from  exi)h)sion.  by  extinguishing  the  fuse. 

Our  movements  down  the  biiyou  were  at  iirst  very 
slow,  at  least  till  full  daylight,  and  then  all  possible 
speed  was  made.  It  l)ecame  evident,  es[)ecially  while 
passing  through  both  Mud  and  (diicot  Lakes  and  even 
through  the  upi)er  part  of  (ri'and  Lake,  that  oiir  depai't- 
iii'e  from  l>utte  a  la  Ros(^  had  been  iione  too  soon.  Thc^re 
were  miles  through  wdiich  the  rather  heavily  hub^n  boats 
l)longhed    mud    and     at     some    points   they  dragged  so 


21-i  KISTOr.Y    OF    THE    tSIXTEENTII    KEGIMENT 

heavily  that  for  a  time,  fears  were  entertained  tliat  we 
could  not  pi'oceed.  Five,  perhaps  three  days  later  the 
passage  through  those  waters  would  have  been  im- 
possible. 

When  the  sun  rose  we  were  well  beyond  the  sight  of  a 
spot  we  then  presumed  i^Vderal  troops  never  Mgain  would 
be  sent  to  garrison  ;  a  spot  that  had  nu)re  than  a  local, 
it  had  at  least  a  state  reputation. 

The  reader  doubtless  will  i-ecall  what  the  Confederate 
commander  said  to  us  on  taking  ])ossession  of  that  place. 
^Ye  now  introduce  another  bit  of  testimony. 

Soon  after  its  capture,  an  announcement  apj)eared  in 
a  St.  Martinsville  X)aper  which  Avas  quoted  in  a  New 
Orleans  daily,  reading  thus  : 

"  The  Yanks  have  taken  from  us  t\n\\  Hole  of  JhU, 
Butte  a  la  Rose,  and  we  wish  them  great  joy  in  its  pos- 
session.'' 

After  entering  (rrand  Lake,  navigation  was  easy.  We 
began  to  feel  that  we  were  now  on  the  way  to  some  des- 
tination, thougli  we  knew  not  where,  nor  had  Ave  much 
concern.  Indeed,  does  any  reader  suppose  had  the 
choice  l)een  left  us  on  the  one  hand  either  to  go  into  the 
trenches  before  Port  Hudson,  to  storm  that  stronghold  of 
the  enemy,  t)r  to  nuike  any  other  bloody  advance,  and  on 
the  other  hand  to  return  to  Butte  a  la  Rose  that  it  would 
have  taken  us  one  moment  to  decide  i 

Let  us  draw  a  ])icture  or  two  ;  tlie  first  one  involves 
l)ati'ol  duty.  The  relief  is  ready  and  begins  its  march 
a  half  mile  or  more  towards  the  enemy.  The  territory 
is  deserted  and    lou«dv.       The  outer  vedette   station   is 


THE   SENTRY    IN    A    THUNDER    STORM. 


NEW     IlA.MrsiIIKE    VOLHNTEEI'.S.  217 

readied.  Two  oi'  tln-ee  vedettes  who  liad  been  on  ,i>,nard 
tlie  first  half  of  the  ni,<idit  are  relieved  ;  tlic  r<dier  patrol 
turns  l)a(dv,  lea.vinii,-  two,  possibly  tlirec  soldiers  oul 
there  alone,  but  within  lieaiaiiii,'  of  the  enemy's  lines. 
They  pull  tlieir  riil)bei'  blankets  about  tlicin  t(j  keep  the 
peltinu' rain  off  ;  tlu'V  stand  ready  with  tliuinl)  on  the 
hammer  to  cock  their  muskets  ;  they  peer  into  the  (hnk- 
ness  from  whi(di  may  come  a  blaze  of  tire  the  next  min- 
ute sendiiiii,'  a  bullet  crashing  through  the  brain.  Those 
are  ])erilous  and  lonesome  hours.  But  does  any  one 
supjtose  that  they  ins])ire  half  the  dread  that  canu^  to  us 
wliih^  heljilessly  we  did  pati'ol  duty  in  tViat  "*  black  hole" 
with  disease  stalking  among  us  and  picking  oil"  our  men 
day  and  night  '. 

On  the  ••mud  mai-cir'  and  at  other  times  as  skir- 
mishers we  had  deployed  undei'  great  difficult  i<'s.  AX'Ikmi 
rendering  sucdi  service  ea(di  man  in  the  line  ex})ects  in  a 
few  brief  moments  to  be  the  mark  for,  ])erliaps  a  score 
of  tlu:-  enemy's  ritles.  Advancing  in  line  they  hear  the 
bullets  whistling  thick  about  them  and  ai'c  left  to 
woiidei'  that  they  heai'  so  many  without  feeling  a  slight 
stinging  sensation  somewhere  in  tln^  body,  followed  with 
the  consciousness  that  suddenly  it  is  gi-owing  dark 
about  them  ;  then  it  is  that  a  soldier's  courage  is 
thoroughly  tested.  \\\\\  we  have  no  hesitalion  in  saying 
that  if  the  men  of  our  regiment  any  time  aftei'  tlie  hi'st 
ten  days  of  tlieir  life  at  Butte  a  la  Rose  could  have  pur- 
chased their  release  fi-(»m  that  }»lace  by  l)eing  ordere(l  to 
make  an  advance  in  skirmish  lineevery  day  in  the  week, 
there  would  not  have  been  a  moment's  hesitation. 


218  Hli^TORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    IlEGIMENT 

It  is  a  trying  experience,  too,  when  soldiers  are  called 
upon  to  hold  an  important  position  with  heavy  odds 
against  them  nntil  reinfoi'cenients  can  be  brought  to 
their  support.  But  thougii  the  carnage  is  sometimes 
feai'ful,  yet  l)ecause  it  cannot  last  very  long,  it  is  far  less 
di'eadfiil  than  a  defense  continued  through  weeks  of 
delay  and  suifei'ing  \\hile  the  angels  oi'  heads  of  disease 
and  death  are  hoveling  over  a  smitten  and  suffering 
gai'rison. 

Biitte  (I  hi  Rosr .'  Bank  of  Hoses',  with  your  swamp 
devils,  monster  alligators,  venomous  snakes,  disease  and 
d("ath,  it  was  you  who  tested  the  foi'titude  of  the  sturdy 
ni(:'ii  from  the  granite  hills  of  New  llami»shire  as  the 
fortitude   of  men  seldom  is  tested  I 

But  now  horrible  ])lace — farewell  I — -fortrer.  Such 
were  our  thoughts  as  ]>utte  a  la  Rose  was  hidden  from 
view  l)y  a  belt  of  trees  on  the  morning  we  left  it.  Those 
ex])eiaences  now  come  to  us  in  memory  not  as  a  reality, 
V)ut  as  a  dream  (oo  strang<"  and  weird  to  l)e  believed. 

Tt  was  Sunday  forenoon.  May  thirty-hrst,  just  foi'ty- 
two  days  aftei-  our  leaving  for  that  henceforth  unmen- 
tionable i)lace,  that  we  again  landed  on  the  wharf  at 
Brashear  (-ity.  and  our  men  were  as  thankful  as  mortals 
could  be  that  once  nu)ie  they  were  in  the  midst  of  at 
least  some  evidences  of  civilization. 

Among  the  first  rations  issued  to  the  regiment  after 
reaching  I'rasheai'  City  was  a  laige  (juantity  of  pickled 
cabbage.  The  craving  of  the  men  for  something  acid 
was  so  intense  that  they  hardly  could  restrain  them- 
selves,   or    be    I'estrained,     Leaving    all    <>tlier  food   uu- 


I 


NEW    HAMPSIIIIJE    VOLUNTEERS,  219 

touched  tliey  seized  that  cabbage  by  the  hand  fills  and 
gorged  tlieinselves  ;  and  what  seenis  singnhir,  tliey  did 
it,  apparently  without  injury. 

As  soon  as  a  train  could  be  made  u])  we  were  ordered 
on  l)oai(l.  Algiers  was  our  destination.  That  jdacewas 
i'ea(died  at  foui'  o'clock  in  the  arterin)on.  Owing  to 
rec(:'nt  ordni-s  to  forward  all  a\:iilal)le  troo])s  as  rapidly 
as  possil)le  to  Port  Ilndson,  we  were  allowM'd  no  time  for 
rest,  though  many  of  our  nuui  were  too  weak  to  stand 
Avithout  suppoi't,  and  some  of  tliem  could  mtt  stand  at 
all  but  were  cai'ried  on  l)oard  the  >>((ll//  Iiohln.soii  whi(di 
had  be^en  oi'dered  up  the  rivei'  to  Springheld  Landing,  a 
short  distance  south  of  Port  Hudson. 

The  adjutant  was  detained  in  New  Orleans  for  a  few 
hours,  to  report  to  (leneral  Emory  tlie  condition  of  tlie 
regiment,  get  the  regimental  mail  and  to  notify  any  con- 
valescents belonging  to  our  command  to  report  at  Port 
Hudson.  A  few  hours  after  the  sailing  of  the  S(//I// 
liohi ti.s(>]i,  the  adjutant  and  a  few  convalescents  took 
passage  on  the  steamshi})  FiiJIoii,  and  nearsunfall,  June 
first,  I'eached  the  landing  where  the  largtu-  })art  of  the 
survivors  of  the  Sixteenth  were  bivouacked  awaiting 
orders. 


(§\,©#\g) 


CHAPTER  XII. 


THE   INVESTMENT   OF   PORT   HUDSON. 

IT  had  l)eeii  clearly  (leiiioiisti-ated  in  the  naval  eii.uaii'e- 
ment,  jSlarch  foiirtee'iirli,  that  Port  Hudson  coiild  not 
be  cai)tured,  on  the  river  side.  There  reniaiiKnl, 
therefore,  three  possible  ways  of  ,i;-ainin,n'  possession  of  it, 
which  were  these  : — First,  there  could  l)e  instituted  a 
siege  that  would  stai've  the  garrison  into  a  surrender. 
Second,  assaults  upon  the  works  could  be  made  that 
might  result  in  foicing  a  surrender.  Thiid.  (General 
Hanks,  any  time  after  May  twenty-third,  could  have 
withdrawn  his  forces  a  short  distauc*'  and  the  enemy 
would  have  made  a  quick  and  volinitaiy  esca])e. 

This  last  statement  is  made  thus  positively  I'oi- as  early 
as  that  date  (general  (lai'duer  had  received  orders  from 
General  .lohnson  to  abandoii   Port   Hudson,  if   ])ossil)le. 

Anu»ng  the  Confederate  recoi'ds  w(^  found  in  the  Con- 
gressional lil)i-ai-y  the  foHowing  letter  written,  under 
date  of  May  twenty-ninth,  1S('>:3,  by  Colonel  Logan  to 
General  Johnson  : 

"  T  have  had  no  coinniunical  ion  from  (lenei'al  (lai-dner 
sinc<^  the  twenty-fourth.  On  that  night  he  intended,  if 
possibh%  to  come  out  and  ordei'ed  nit'  to  place  my  forces 


NKw  TTA:\rrsiiTi:E  volt^nteeks.  2^1 

so  :is  to  assist  liim,  wliicli  1  did.  I  think  he  found  it 
ini])0">sil)l('  to  cut  his  wa_\'  out.  I  am  at  this  phicc  [(din- 
ton.  La.  I  witli  a  ('oiniuaiid  of  caxalry  and  iiioiiiil('(l  infan- 
ti'V,  t\\(d\('  hiindrcd  incii,  doiiiu,-  all  I  can  lo  aid  (Jardnei', 
by  (hisliinu'  upon  tin-  enemy's  lines,  destroyinii'  his  waiion 
ti-ains.  etc.  I  am  determined  to  do  all  I  can.  with  tlie 
nutans  at  my  c(»mniand.'' 

It  tlins  appears  that  (lardner  was  watchinii'  f'oi'  an  op- 
poi't unity  to  esca])e.  And  to  have  allowed  him  to  ('scai)e, 
as  will  a  j)i)ear  fui'tliei'  on,  \\()uld  have  been  on  the  whole, 
a  wisei'  course  to  jiursue  than  to  ii.iA'ht,  thouuh  nndei' 
oidinary  ciicumslaiu'es  and  fi'om  a  sti'ictly  militai'y 
})oint  of  view  su(di  a  course  at  that  time  doubtless 
would  have  lieen  open  to  criticism. 

But  the  metliod  adopted  by  our  forces  was  that  of  mak- 
ing assaults  upon  the  enemy  which  proved,  as  a  matter 
of  fact,  the  most  unwise  and  unfortunate  course  con- 
ceivable. 

Our  regiment  had  reached  Springfield  Landing,  as  we 
have  said,  June  first,  but  the  investment  of  Port  Hudson 
had  been  completed  six  days  earlier.  May  twenty-fifth. 

The  dis])osition  of  our  lorcesat  that  time  was  as  follows: 
(leneral  ANVitzel  occu])ied  the  extreme  right  ;  then  came 
(lem-ials  (iroxei-,  Paine.  Augei'and  Dwiglit,  in  theorder 
named,  Dwight  occupying  the  extreme  left. 

Parragut  was  slatioiUMl  above  Poi't  Hudson  with  the 
gunl)oats  I/di/J'ord.  Allxifross  and  a  few  smallei-  om.'s, 
and  just  Ixdow  wci'*^  the  guid)oats  ^f<)ll(>lH/<lJ^('hl,  Exsea\ 
(jenmtHet'  and  liicJi iiioikI ,  togethei'  wifh  sevei'al  nntrtar 
boats  undei-  rlie  comnnmd  of  (-.   II.  ('aldwell. 


222  IIISTOKV    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KE(a:\[ENT 

]>aiiks  wrote  to  Grant  under  date  of  May  eighth  that 
as  earh^  as  May  tvventy-tifth  he  should  have  fifteen  thous- 
and effective  men  before  Port  Hudson  ;  i)resuma])ly  that 
was  al)ont  the  number  engaged  in  the  siege  at  the  date 
of  wliicli  we  ai'e  writing. 

General  Frank  Gardner,  then  eommanding  Port  Hud- 
son, had  asked  General  Johnson  for  reinforcements,  but 
they  could  not  l)e  furnished,  and  hence  Johnson's  order 
for  Gardner  to  escape  with  his  forces  if  possible.  But 
this  Gardner  felt  he  could  not  do.  nor  could  he  commu- 
nicate any  longei"  with  Joliuson  or  the  outside  world. 
And  further,  he  had  no  means  by  laiul  or  water  for  ob- 
taining commissary  or  ordnance  supi)lies. 

It  was  commonly  reported,  too,  at  the  time,  that  his 
trooi)S  had  l)eeii  reduced  to  "  mule  meat ''  and  "  fricasseed 
rats,"'  which  probably  was  a  much  exaggerated  statement 
of  the  facts  in  the  case  ;  still  that  Gardner  was  in  great 
straits  never  has  been  questioned.  He  was  surrounded. 
Nearly  three  hundred  of  our  heavy  siege  guns  had  been 
brought  into  position  to  bombard  his  fortifications.  His 
men  were  deserting  daily,  and  some  of  them  came  within 
our  lines  in  a  half-starved  condition.  All.  therefore, 
that  Hanks  need  to  have  done  was  to  be  patient,  wait  a 
little,  and  the  garrison  Avoiild  have  been  stained  iulo  an 
unconditional  surrender. 

That  such  should  have  been  the  method  of  conquest  is 
apparent  enough  I'loiu  our  ])resent  jxtint  of  view  and 
seemingly  it  ought  to  have  been  equally  ap])a rent  at  the 
time  of  which  we  are  s[)eaking. 


NEW    HAMPSIIIKK    VoM' NTKKIJS.  22:^ 

Tn  n  lett<'r  of  May  tweiify-eii;'b tli  to  (xPneral  (Irant, 
(TCiieral  J5aiiks  writes  thus: 

"  Tlie  gaiTisoii  of  the  enemy  is  live  or  six  tlioiisand 
men.  I'riiis  ajipeai's  to  be  an  tiiidei' estimate.  ]  Tlie 
woi'l-Ls  are  wliat  ordimirily  would  ll)e  styled  inii)i-e,uiial)le. 
They  are  suirounded  by  ravines,  woods,  valleys  and 
bayous  of  the  most  intricate  and  hil)yrintlii('  character 
that  make  th«MVorks  tliemselves  almost  inaccessible.  It 
reijnii'es  time  even  to  understand  tlie  £;eo,iii'a]»liy  of  the 
position.  "  ""  ■"  If  it  be  2)ossible  I  ])e,<i,'  yon  to  send 
me  at  least  one  bi'i^ade  of  four  thousand  or  live  thousand 
men.  This  will  l)e  of  vital  importance  to  us  We  nniy 
have  to  abandon  these  o})erations  without  it.'' 

In  his  Pcr.soiKiI  Memoirs  General  Gi-ant  gives  the  fol-. 
lowing  reasons  for  not  complying  with  Banks'  request. 
'•In  May  I  received  a  letter  from  General  Banks  asking 
me  to  reinforce  him  with  ten  thousand  men.  [There  is 
a  discrepancy  between  Grant's  and  Banks'  acconnt  of 
the  nnmber  of  men  asked  for.]  Of  course  I  did  not  com- 
ply with  his  request,  nor  did  I  think  he  needed  them. 
He  was  in  no  danger  of  an  attack  by  the  garrison  in  his 
front,  and  there  was  no  army  organizing  in  his  rear  to 
raise  the  siege." 

Now  in  view  of  these  facts  and  especially  in  view  of 
the  confessions  of  General  Baid\.s.  we  cannot  he!})  asking 
this  question  : 

Wliy  should  an  assault  have  l)e<'n  made  on  '' impreg- 
nable w(u-ks"  and  on  "'alniost  iiKiccessil)le""  foi'tilications, 
es])(M'ially  \\li('n  tiiei'e  was  •"no  danger  of  an  attack  by 
the  garrison    in    fi-ont,"    \\heMi    "tliei'e   was   no  armv   or- 


224  IIIS'l'DlJY    OF    THE    STXTEKXTIt    KEGIME.VT 

,i;nuiz(^(l  in  the  rear  to  raise  the  siene  and  wlien   (Tardner 
was  already  sufferiiio-  for  lack  of  supplies  C 

General  Grant,  with,  certainly  no  stronger  reasons,  had 
adopted  a  more  sensible  and  an  ecpially  military  course 
at  Vi(dvsl)urg.  That  is,  after  making  one  assault.  May 
twenty-second,  he  says,  in  his  Personal  ^femoirs- :  "I 
now  determined  ujion  a  regular  siege  to  out-cani])  the 
enemy,  as  it  were,  and  to  incur  no  more  losses/' 

This  plan  was  carried  out  and  by  regular  "  siege  work  " 
General  Grant  brought  about  the  surrender  of  N^icksburg 
July  foui'th,  the  siege  lasting  forty-six  days  whi(di  was 
oiu^  day  fewer  than  the  time  of  Baidvs'  investment  of  Port 
Hudson. 

And  if  any  good  reasons  can  l)e  given  why  the  method 
em[)loyed  l)y  Grant  should  not  have  been  adopted  by 
Banks,  we  cannot  imagine  what  they  can  be. 

The  resolution  of  G]'ant  not  to  im])e]-il  the  lives  of  his 
men  by  storming  the  strong  fortifications  of  the  enemy 
was  not  only  sensible  and  humane,  but  under  the  cir- 
cumstances was  eminenth^  soldierly.  On  the  other  hand 
the  method  adof)ted  by  oui'  ti'oops  Ave  cannot  characterize 
l)y  any  other  sentence  tlian  one  we  use  with  great  I'eluc- 
tance,  namely,  that  the  method  of  Banks,  under  the  cir- 
cunislam-es.  was  unsoldierly  and  seemingly  inhuman. 

In  tliis  history  it  is  not  for  us  to  go  riilly  into  the 
details  of  the  tiist  attack  u])on  Port  Hudson,  for  our 
I'egimeiit  had  not  yet  renched  there.  AVe  merely  say 
that  an  assault  was  made  on  the  eneuny's  '"  imf)regnable  " 
and  "almost  inaccessible""  foil  ilications,  Sunday  morn- 
ing, May  t  wenty-S!'A'ent  li.      In  e\i  deuce  of  the  acciii-acy  (d' 


SYAV  irA:\ri>siirin<:  voLrNTEEK.'^i.  225 

"Banks'  (lesei'iptioii  of  (lie  stivngth  of  thosp  foi'tifications 
we  iccoiiiif  tli<'  slaiiii'lifci'  tliat  belVl  the  Eig-litli  rciiiiiiciit 
of  oin-  own  state,  a  reiiiiuciit  wliose  l)ril]iant  recoi-d,  we 
sliall  be  ])ardone(l  for  sayiiii;',  is  siir})asse(l  l)y  that  of  no 
other  reii'iiiieiit  I'l'oiii  any  of  tlu^  states  (Inrini:,'  the  way  ;  a 
reuiiiieiit  of  whose  fort itinh' and  conraii'e  oni' state  always 
should  be  i)i'oud. 

Tt  will  be  ]'eniend)e']'(;'d  l)y  those  wlio  are  familiar  with 
the  history  of  the  Nineteentli  Army  Coi'ps,  that  they 
we]"e  the  Eiiihtli  New  llampsliirc^  and  Fonrtli  \Visc(»nsin 
which  led  off  in  almost  e\-ery  perilous  enij,'a,i;'emeiit  and 
expedition  evei-ywheic  in  tin*  de'partment  of  the  gulf. 

'idiis  is  the  sanuninai'v  I'ecord  of  the  Eiiihth  dni'iiii;'  that 
first  Sunday's  huhtiiu;- : 

iiieiiienant-(^)lon(d  Jjull  f<dl,  mortally  wounded,  l)y  a 
Miine  ball,  early  in  tlie  charge,  while  cheei-ing  on  his 
men.  (^a])tain  Flamhu's  and  Lieutenants  Jones  and  Lang- 
ley  were  also  wounded.  All  of  the  color  guai'd,  except- 
ing a  single  corporal,  were  killed  or  wounded  ;  ''but  the 
gallant  survivor  kept  fast  hold  of  his  flag,  and  planted 
it  triumphantly  on  the  outer  slope  of  tin:  woi'ks,  where 
it  I'emained  till  night,  riddled  with  grape,  canistei-  and 
bullets."  The  nundx'r  that  went  into  the  light  was  two 
hundred  ;iml  ninety-eight,  and  of  those  one  hundied  ami 
twenty-four  wei-e  killed  (»]•  wounde(L 

Sufdi  was  the  fatality  of  that  one  reginu:'nt  in  that  dis- 
astidiis  assault,  and  the  losses  of  some  of  the  othei-swere 
scai'cely  less.  Our  ai'iiiy  lost  in  all  that  day  ii'niclcen. 
hniidrcd  and  ii i iicl ij-J} re  iiicn,  killed,  wounded  and  miss- 
in  u',  while  the  enem  v's  loss  was  litirdl  \'  w  (U'tliv  of  m(Mition. 


226  IIISTOin'    OF    TJIE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Those  nielancholy  results  of  an  attempt  to  carry  "  im- 
pregnable" fortitications  should  liave  been  as  one  would 
tliink  a  salutary  lesson  to  our  commanders. 

Such  was  the  state  of  affairs  when  the  Sixteenth  arrived 
at  Springfield  Landing  June  first.  On  the  evening  of  our 
arrival  Colonel  Pike  then  in  comninnd.  ordered  the  men 
into  line,  and  it  was  found  that  sick  and  well,  rank  and 
hie,  we  numbered  two  hundred  and  three,  though  we 
ought  to  say  that  there  was  scarcely  a  well  man  among 
them.  Some  of  the  numl)er  were  so  emaciated  that 
fi-iends  of  a  lifetime  scarcel}^  would  have  recognized  them. 

The  following  statements  will  fm-nish  some  idea  of  tlie 
shattered  condition  of  the  regiment :  The  original  color 
guard  were  all  gone  and  the  three  that  stood  in  line  that 
afternoon  were  volunteers. 

It  became  necessary  to  reoi'ganize  the  I'egiment  before 
attem})ting  an  advance.  The  members  of  com})anies  G 
aiTd  K,  were  ])laced  under  the  command  of  Captain  Euffum 
and  Lieutenant  Webber  ;  the  members  of  companies  A, 
B  and  G,  were  x>laced  under  command  of  Captain  Hersey 
and  Lieutenants  Cooper  and  Coll)urn  ;  the  membei'S  of 
companies  P  and  11.  were  assigned  to  the  command  of 
Lientenants  Adams  and  AVaid  ;  and  the  membeis  of  com- 
panies C.  I)  and  E,  were  assigned  to  Captain  Clarke  and 
Lieutenant  Porter.  It  aj)peaied  on  inspection  that  com- 
pany K  was  the  fnllest  of  all  the  companies  and  yet  its 
condition  was  nothing  to  l)oast  of.  It  had  no  commissioned 
officer  present  and  there  wei'e  l)iit  two  sergeants,  three 
coi-[)orals  and  twenty  privates  ^\  ho  conld  i"e[)ort  fordnty. 

()ur  men   after  the  reoi'gani/.at  ion,  wei'e   found  l)v  the 


NEW    IIAMJ'SIUKE    NOLINTEKKS.  227 

ins])ectin,o-  offirors  nnd  surgeons  to  be  fitter  for  cots  in 
the  liosi)it;»l  I  liiui  for  service  on  the  field,  yet  in  the  words 
of  ()]ie  of  our  officers,  "  Tliose  siciv  men  almost  refnsed 
to  be  taken  to  tlie  hosjiitals,  so  eager  wfiv  they  for  any 
death  except  death  l)y  disease  whicli   threatened  them.'" 

At  Springfield  Landing  we  l)ivouaclved  for  the  night 
with  blankets  for  l)eds  and  trees  for  tents.  Thongli  l)ui'n- 
ing  with  fevers  and  shaking  with  ague  we  had  onr  orders 
to  start  for  the  front  to  engage  with  the  other  troops  in 
an  assanlt  on  Poit  Hudson  early  the  next  morning. 

Accordingly  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  with  a  cnj) 
of  cofTee  and  hardtack  for  i-ations,  the  regiment  was 
formed  in  liiu'  and  soon  after  began  its  languid  and  nn- 
steady  march  tli rough  solilary  woods  whose  silence  was. 
broken  by  the  occasional  hootinu' of  owls  and  booming  of 
the  "big  guns"  of  our  l»atteiies  that  were  trying  to 
silence  those  of  the  enem\\ 

In  a  few  houi's  we  expected  to  l)e  in  the  fight  and  in 
front  of  works  that  alieady  had  proved  too  strong  for  onr 
troops  to  cany.  At  nine  o'clock  we  were  within  tlie 
onter  rifie  pits  of  the  enemy  that  previonsly  had  been 
stornied  and  cariied  by  (Teneral  Auger. 

While  still  moving  cautiously  towards  the  enemy's 
lines  we  were  halted  and  received  orders  from  Geneial 
Baidvs  ro  lejxu't  imnuMliately  at  headcpiartei's.  This 
change  in  I  lie  disposition  of  our  I'egiment  was  made,  we 
])i'esuni<Ml,  at  the  lime,  because  of  some  threatened  danger 
at  that  poinl.  This.  Iiowcnci'.  proved  not  to  be  the  case 
and  (he  i-eason  of  (he  oi-der  soon  a  f(ei'  was  full  v  ex  i)l  allied 
in  (  his  w  a\'  : 


'>i8  IlISToUY    OK    TltE    SIXTKKXTIi    ];E(UMEXT 

(Ten(^i;il  Kiuory.  wlio  was  tlieii  oil  duty  in  New  Orleans, 
nl'fei'  I'eceiving  our  regimental  report  and  after  listening 
to  Captain  Hyatt's  nccount  of  our  condition,  forwardiMl 
despatches  to  (leneral  ]3anks  that  the  Sixteenth  New 
llanii»sliire  must  not  be  sent  to-  tlie  fi'ont  ;  that  it  had 
suffei-ed  enough  already  and  "at  l)est  could  nnister  for 
sei-vice  only  a  feAv  sJieJetons.^'' 

We  shall  l)e  ])aidoned  for  expressing  at  this  point  onrad- 
miiation  for  the  soldierly  and  merciful  character  of  Geiie- 
lal  \V.  11.  Kmory  and  our  senseof  gratitude  for  his  thought- 
ful consideration  on  two  occasions  for  our  regiment. 

\V(^  w(^re  in  his  division  most  of  the  time  during  our 
campaign.  lie  was  a  West  Point  graduate  (18:)1)  and 
was  iirst  captain,  then  maj(U-  in  the  war  with  jSIexico. 
Tie  took  ])art  as  brigadier-general  in  the  Peninsula  cam- 
paign in  b'-^<)2.  He  was  absolutely  fearless,  staunchly 
loyal,  a  strict  disciplinarian  in  important  matters  l)ut 
not  a  stickler  for  trivial  things.  More  than  once  he  re- 
ceived the  adjutant  in  person  when  regimental  represen- 
tatives and  requests  should  have  gone  to  him  only 
through  the  regular  channels. 

Though  having  great  interests  to  look  after  in  New 
Orleans,  sufficient  one  would  think  to  have  absoibed  his 
entire  lliought.  still  he  had  his  eyes  uixm  oui-  impei'illed 
regiment  at  I'utte  a  la  Hose  and  sent  (hi])tain  Hyatt  to 
our  I'escue.  And  no  sooner  had  he  received  a  detailed 
statement  of  oui'  condition  than  lie  sent  his  i-eport  and 
request  to  (ieneral  Hanks  not  to  ])Ut  us  in  the  trenches. 

This  ti'ibute  to  that  nobh'  otlicej-  is  tardy,  but  is  de- 
served and  most  ii'ratefulh'  iciideied. 


o 


QQ 


O 


NKW     IIAMI'SIIIKK    VoLrXTKEIIS.  ^ol 

General  Baiik^.  actiiii!,'  iiiioii  this  iei)()i-t  fi-oiii  (leneral 
Kiuoi-yand  ])r()bal)ly  recalliiiu' \\'liat  liad  Ix'eii  oiii'  expci-i- 
t'lices  as  seen  to  some  extent  by  himself  when  ])assiii_i;' 
down  the  bayou  at  r)Utte  a  la  Rose,  conntei-iiiaiiibMl  the 
order  that  w^as  sendiiiii,'  us  to  the  front  and  or(h'red  iis  to 
report  at  headquartei's  wliere  we  were  assigned  the  duty 
of  issuing  and  guarding  anmiunition. 

The  representations  of  (■a])tain  Hyatt  respecting  our 
regiment,  and  the  re[)ort  of  General  Emory  to  (Jeiiei'nl 
Banks,  we  may  add,  receive  striking  confirmation  in  the 
fact  that  (»n  tlu^  moi'iiing  of  .June  se\'entli,  one  wetdv  after 
our  airival  at  Spriiiglield  jjanding  we  couhl  miistei-  fi'oiii 
the  entire  regiment  only  seventy-five  men  lit  for  duty. 
There  were  daily  deaths  and  in  a  single  day  whih'  there 
at  Port  Hudson  we  cai'iae(l  to  the  grave  six  of  rhe  few 
coiui-ades  who  were  left.  Some  of  the  men  attempting  to 
walk  to  the  surgeon's  tent  fell  dead  in  their  tracks,  and 
others  died  in  their  tents,  unattended  and  withont  utter- 
ing a  moan.  We  quote  in  coidiianatlon  of  \\hat  we  are 
S'lying  a  few  woi'ds  from  one  of  oui'  most  etlicieid  ollicers. 
Captain  .lohn  Ij.   IJic<'  :  — 

"At  last  we  wer(^  pei-mitted  tocomeont  of  those  terri- 
ble swam}>s  upon  a  fair  Tndd,  and  with  an  enthusiasm 
which  I  never  have  seen  ecpuiUed,  oni'  l)oys  look  tlitdr 
j)lace  in  line  and  faiily  courted  a  soldieu-'s  (h'atli. 

•'  I'nt  it  was  too  late,  'i'he  fatal  ]!oison  had  done  its 
woik.  Daily  and  honrly  our  boys  sickene(l  and  died. 
Every  morning  they  wei'e  found  dead  in  theii'  blank- 
ets. At  loll-call  while  answi'i-ing  feebly  to  theii'  names 
tliev    wonld    fall   down    and    die   in    tlieii'  tiacks.        Time 


282  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

and  aii'ain  I  saw  tliem  all  accoutred  for  battle,  with 
ej^es  to  the  front  and  musket  in  hand,  stniiger,  sink  to 
the  o'l'onnd  where  they  had  l)een  standinii;,  as  dead  as  if 
shot  in  their  tracks.  Once  when  a  funeral  squad  had 
tired  the  last  volley  over  the  grave  of  a  comrade,  one  of 
the  si^uad  moved  forward,  saidv  upon  the  fresh  mound 
of  his  dead  comrade  and  breathed  his  last.  Another 
grave  was  hastily  dug.  another  volley  tired  and  that 
comrade  was  covered  fjom  sight.'' 

Sunday,  June  thirl eenth,  bi'ings  us  to  the  second 
unfortunate  and  unjustifiable  assault  on  Port  Hudson. 
It  was  at  l)est  a  reckless  Sunday  adventure  which  many 
of  our  New  England  men  engaged  in  without  heart,  or 
enthusiasm. 

The  general  plan  of  that  assault,  as  is  sn])posed,  was 
foi'mulated  by  Ueneial  liJanks,  though  General  drover 
appeal's  to  have  arranged  the  particulars.  Grover  and 
Weitzelwere  to  make  the  nuiin  attack  u^jou  the  extreme 
northeasterly  angle  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  at  the 
same  time  Clenerals  Auger  and  1) wight. were  to  make  an 
attack  on  the  left.  ({(Miei-al  AVeitzel's  troops  were  to 
niak<'  a  vigorous  assault  and  if  possil)le  gain  a  position 
inside  the  enemy's  works,  and  when  this  was  done 
Genei-al  Paine's  division  was  to  move  to  their  immediate 
su[ij)ort  at  an  angle  of  the  fortilicatioiis  not  fai-  distant. 

At  early  dawn  AVeitzel's  cohimn,  through  a  coveivd 
way  that  had  l)een  excav;ittMl  to  within  one  hundred 
yards  of  the  outer  works  of  the  Gonfederates.  began  its 
march.  IJiit  as  it  emerged  from  its  concealment  it  was 
met    l)y    an    unexpected    and    murdnrous    lii'e    froin    the 


NEW    TIA^MPSTiriJE    V(»LT']V'I'EEKS.  288 

enemy.  Tr  ai)[)eai*s  that  Cleiierai  Gardiici',  the  Coiil't^d- 
e]-ate  cominandei',  liad  1)p<mi  fully  informed  of  IJaiiks' 
intentions  and  accordingly  his  troops  were  massed  at 
tliat  very  point  to  meet  onr  attaclv. 

AVeit/eTs  troops  ^^■ere  thus  repulsed  and  appear  to 
liave  ll)een  quite  denioi'alized  l)efore  Paine's  division  had 
faii-ly  gotten  undei'way.  This  failure  of  co  opci-atiou  of 
Weitzel  and  Paine  was  a  fatal  mistake.  Foiwhcn  I*ainc 
had  reached  the  pf)int  where  he  was  to  nuike'  his  assault, 
(lardncr  was  there  l)efore  liim.  He  liad  icinforccd  tlie 
troops  already  tliere  with  those  tliat  had  just  I'epulsed 
W^'ilzel  and  thus  Avas  able  to  confront  Paine  with  a 
force  that  staggered  and  then  drove  him  back.  The 
facts  are  tliat  (rardner  had  completely  out-generaled 
our  troops. 

Dwight's  attaclv  on  the  left  wliich  sliould  have  l)een 
mach:"  simultaneously  with  that  of  AVeitzel  on  the  I'ight, 
came  too  late,  owing  i!  is  said,  to  the  misdirection  of  the 
guides  and  hence  pi'oved  an  utter  failure. 

The  late  afternoon  and  night  hours  of  the  day  of  that 
bloody  defeat  overtook  a  Ixxly  of  I'nion  ti'oops  that 
"were  discouraged,  woiai  out,  almost  dazed  witli  grief 
and  disai>pointm(-nt  and  pei'lia[»s  hardened  somewhat 
with  the  scenes  through  \\lii<di  they  had  })as,se(l."  And 
no  one  familial'  with  th<^  e\ents  of  that  and  tlu^  previous 
Sunday  assaults,  can  blame  the  disheartened  men. 

The  historian  of  the  Sixteenth,  having  received  pei-- 
mission  to  be  al)sent  from  headcpiarters  for  the  day.  sjieiit 
the  afternoon  and  excning  among  our  (hd'eated  troops 
and  a  part  of  the  time  on  the  ground  that  had  witnessed 


284  iirsTonv  of  tite  sixteenth  hegiment 

the  repulse  of  Weitzel's  division  and  therefore  from  per- 
sonal obsei'vation  knows  of  what  he  is  speakin.u'. 

AVe  must  aiiain  eomplinient  the  regiment  already  re- 
ferred to.  the  Eighth  New  llampsliire,  and  we  emi)loyits 
losses  as  before  by  way  of  illnsti-ation.  The  geiieral 
order  for  that  day  was  the  following: 

HEAix^rAiriEns  Tiiii;i>   l)i\  isiox,      ) 
Before  Tort  Hudson,  .lune  1-itli,   18('):}.  ( 

(tKmiiiai.  Okdehs:   No.   (U. 

COLTMX    OF    attack. 

Eighth  N(Mv  ITampshire,   Eourth   AVisconsin.   as  skirm- 
ishers, intervals  two  X'JK'fS- 
Five  companies.   Fonrth  Massaehnsetts    and  One  Hun- 
dred Tenth  New  York,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 

The  Piighth  New  Hampshire  enteied  that  tight  wirli  two 
hundred  aiul  seventeen  men  and  lost  one  hundred  and 
twenty-two  out  of  the  nnml)er. 

We  cannot  help  feeling  intense  indignation  that  onr 
New  llampshi]*e  men,  as  true  and  noble  soldieis  as 
ever  walked  the  earth,  were  sacrificed  so  needlessly 
and  nselessly  before  Port  Ihidson.  Hi-avemenI  and  we 
include  our  hei'oic  comi-ades  of  the  Fifteenth  New 
Hampshire  [is  well,  who  partici])ated  in  those  assaults, 
you  did  as  commanded  and  deserve  all  ])raise,  but  your 
slaughter  with  nothing  of  advantage  to  show  for  it 
constitutes  one  of  the  deplorable  pages  of  the  military 
histoi-y  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

And  we  shall  l)e  pai'doned  in  passing  for  si)eaking  a 
word  in  commendation  of  the  colored  trooj)S  who  fought 


in,  " 


NEW    irAMI'SIIIlJK    VOLUNTEERS.  2'M 

witli  US  and  to  wliom  the  nation  owes  a  debt  of  gratitnde 
not  yet  ])aid.  Colonel  Stafford,  of  tlie  lirst  regiment  of 
tlie  V)]a('k  IJiigade,  while  encamped,  the  historian  is 
prond  to  say,  near  our  own  reiiiment  at  Baton  Rouge, 
handed  the  regimental  colors  to  the  sergeant,  wlio  was 
as  bhiek  as  a  negro  could  be,  (dosing  his  speech  witli 
these  words: — "  C^jlor  bearer,  guard,  defend,  protect, 
die  for,  but  do  not  surrender  these  colors.""  To  which 
the  sergeant  re})lied  : — ''Coh)nel,  Til  return  this  tiag  to 
you,  in  honor,  or  I'll  repoit  to  (lod  the  reason  why.'' 

The  negro  sei-geant,  in  that  desperate  (diarge  on  Port 
Hudson,  fell  mortally  wounded.  But  his  el)ony  face 
was  to  the  enemy  ;  and  those  coloi's  in  liis  clenched 
hands  were  pressed  upon  his  breast,  and  the  (Tod  al)ove 
knew  the  reason  why  he  did  not  return  tlie  Hag  to  his 
colonel. 

The  total  loss  to  our  forces  intliat  second  Sunday's  at- 
attack  was  cnjlilccii  liiiiulrcd  intd  fim'.  uirn,  and  as  in 
the  former  assault,  scarcely  any  damage  was  done  to 
the  enemy. 

Those  two  disastrous  defeats  and  the  general  con- 
dition of  our  troops,  as  might  be  expected,  greatly 
emboldened  the  Confederate  forces  that  were  then  hov- 
ering about  us.  The  wonder  is  that  (lardiier  and  (ireeii 
aftei'  those  defeats  and  in  our  c]'ip[)led  condition  did 
not  attemj)t  to  entrap-  if  not  to  crush  our  army  between 
theii'  forces,  whi(dj  we  think  easily  could  have  b(M^n  done. 

This  manifestly  was  Logan's  conviction.  For  under 
date  of  June  twenty -ninth  he  wrote  thus  to  (Teneral 
Johnson : 


238  II1ST(»KY     OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMEXT 

"As  I  have  already  stated,  a  small  reinforceiiieiit 
sent  here  will  not  only  raise  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson 
but  drive  the  enemy  from  the  country,  and  I  believe 
from  Baton  Rouge." 

The  issuing  and  guarding  of  ammunition  at  head- 
(|uartei-s  ronstituted  the  service  of  our  regiment  outside 
of  Port  Hudson  from  . I  line  second  to  July  tenth  and 
inside  of  Port  Hudson  from  that  date  to  .hily  twentieth. 

Day  after  day  and  night  after  night  duiiiig  tlie  time 
X)receding  the  fall  of  Port  Hudson  ]-itles  were  cra<ds.ing 
and  cannon  booming  and  occasional  shots  came  into  our 
cam]>.  though  no  om-  of  our  men  was  strucdv.  AVe  felt 
the  importance  of  the  service  assigned,  and  were  so 
faithful  in  the  dis(diarge  of  our  duties  and  had  the  confi- 
dence of  (reneral  Banks  to  such  extent  that  there 
ai)})eared  to  be  no  inidination  on  his  part  to  transfer  us 
to  othei'  service,  though  at  our  best,  while  before  Port 
Hudson,  we  could  muster  scarcely  a  hundred  men  for 
duty. 

During  a  ])erio(l  of,  i)erhai)S.  two  weeks  l)efore  the 
suiT'ender  of  Port  Hudson  \ve  were  ordered  out  morning 
aft(M-  morning,  at  3.3()  o'(dock  and  stood  under  ai-ms 
until  daylight  to  repel  a  possible  and  whtit  at  times 
seemed,  a  probal)le  attacdv  on  head(|uarters  by  forces 
under  Logan  that  were  closing  in  about  us  and  con- 
stantly testing  the  sti'ength  of  oui-  position. 

Confederate  cavalrynien  and  mounted  infaiitiy,  not  in 
vei'v  large  numbers,  however,  wei'e  annoying  our  lines 
all  the  way  from  S])i'ingtield  Landing  to  Poi-t  Hudson. 
Hideed  there  were  detachments  of  the  enemv  at  different 


NKW   HAM  psiii  i;k   vomntkkks. 


2;59 


})()iiits  down  tli<^  river  as  far  as  Donaldsoiivillr  wliei-e 
there  was  a  foice  iiiider  Ueiieral  (Ireen  ol"  t'l'oiii  fifteen 
hundred  to  two  thousand  men. 

And  we  repeat  tliat  if  tlie  condition  of  oui-  troops 
after  tlie  two  attacks  on  Port  Hudson  had  been  fully 
known,  and  had  (ireen  ci'ossed  the  river  ainf  concenh'ah^d 
his  forces  in  our  rear,  had  ''  I)i(dv''  Taylor  nuide  a  little 
more  sliow  in  liis  demonstration  against  New  Orleans, 
wdien  he  moved  east  from  Brashear  City,  and  had  (lard- 
ner  assumed  the  offensive  aided  by  Logan,  seemingly  the 
capitulation  of  Banks'  arniv  inevitably  must  have  fol- 
lowed. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


THREE  AFFAIRS  OF  INDEPENDENT  AND 
IMPORTANT  INTEREST. 


I.     "the    ST()]nriX(r    (M)LT^MX''     OU    ''FOllLOKX    HOPE." 


THE  day  after  the  last  assault  on  Port  Hudson,  June 
fourteenth,  Avas  a  gloomy  one  and  was   passed  by 
the  troo[)S  in  burying  sueh   of  their  dead  as  had 
been  brought  off  the  held,  in  caring  for  the  wounded  and 
in  estimating  the  various  losses  and  casualties  that  had 
befallen  our  army. 

It  was  during  that  day.  too,  that  (leneral  Banks 
issued  his  famous  order,  numl)cr  forty-nine,  calling  for 
volunteers  to  constitute  a  "  Storming  Column/'  or 
"  Foi-lorn  Tloite'"  as  it  was  called.  Those  volunteers 
were  to  assault  Port  Hudson,  as  was  expected  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet,  and  th<^  place  foi'  the  attack  Avas 
to  be  not  far  from  the  extreme  right  of  our  army.  Tlie 
followinii'  was  the  order  issued  :  — 


NEW     IIAMrslIIUK    VOLFNTEERS.  '241 

Headqitartkr.s  Dept.  of  tiik  Gulf, 

19th  Army  Corps, 
BiiFORK  Port  Hudson,  I^a.,  June  15,   1863. 
Coieial  0)dcr  N^o.  49. 

"The  Coinniandiiig  General  congratulates  tlie  troops  before 
Port  Hu(lsf)n,  upon  the  steady  advance  made  upon  the  enemy's 
works,  and  is  confident  of  an  immediate  and  triumphant  issue  of 
the  contest.  We  are  at  all  points  upon  the  threshold  of  his  forti- 
fications.    One  more  advance  and  the}"  are  ours. 

"For  the  last  duty  that  victory  imposes,  the  Commanding 
General  summons  the  Ijold  men  of  the  Corps  to  the  organization 
of  a  Storming  Column  of  a  thousand  men,  to  vindicate  the  P^lag 
of  the  Union  and  the  memory  of  its  defenders  who  have  fallen  ! 
I^et  them  come  forward  ! 

"Officers  who  led  the  Column  of  Victor}'  in  the  last  assault 
may  be  assured  of  a  just  recognition  of  their  services  b}-  promo- 
tion, and  every  Officer  and  Soldier  who  shares  its  perils  and  its- 
glories  shall  receive  a  medal  fit  to  commemorate  the  first  grand 
success  of  the  campaign  of  1S63  for  the  freedom  of  the  Mississippi. 
His  name  shall  be  placed  in  General  Orders  on  the  roll  of  Honor. 

"Division  Commanders  will  at   once  report  the  names  of  the 
Officers  and  Men  who  may  volunteer  for  this  service,  in  order  that 
the  organization  of  the  Column  may  be  completed  without  delaj'. 
"  By  command  of 

"  Maj.  Gen.  Banks. 
"Richard  B.   Irwin,  A.sst   Ajt.  Gen." 


Colonel  Henry  W.  ]')ri(l,i;e  was  assigned  eonnnand  of 
the  Storraing  Column,  liaving  foi'liis  staff  Captain  Duncan 
S.  Walker,  assistant  adjutant-general,  and  Lieutenant 
Edmund  II.  Russell  of  the  nintli  I'ennsylvania  Ileseives, 
acting  signal  officer. 

The  hearts  of  some  of  the  bravest  and  most  patriotic 
of  (un-  men  were  moved,  as  might  l)e  expected,  by  the 
reading  of   this  order,  bur   the  heaits  of  others  equally 


242  insToUV    (»F    THE    SIXTEEN  Til     REGIMENT 

brave  and  pntriorir.  who  had  been  taking  into  account 
tlie  entire  situation  of  alt'airs,  so  far  as  it  could  bn  taken 
into  account  by  tlieni,  were  not  moved.  Indeed  the 
order  failed  utterly  to  awaken  any  enthusiasm  in  the 
hearts  of  the  majority  of  the  army.  On  the  contrary  it 
elicited  much  unfavorable  comment,  and  in  some  in 
stances,  severe  criticism. 

Two  months  earlier,  five  thousand  men  at  h^ast.  would 
have  volunteered  unhesitatingly  for  that  service.  But 
the  outlook  had  changed.  And  who  will  say  there  were 
not  the  best  of  reasons  for  taking  a  different  view  of 
affairs  \ 

Certainly  from  our  ])resent  ])oiiit  of  view  an  attempt  to 
carry  out  the  order  of  (Teiieral  Baidvs  would  ha\<'  Ix^en 
unwise  and  even  foolhardy.  Not  one  good  reason  can  be 
advanced  for  supposing  that  the  assault  contemplated 
by  the  "Forlorn  Ho])e''  would  have  brought  results 
different  from  those  that  followed  the  attacks  of  May 
twenty-seventh  and  of  June  fourteenth.  Oiii'  ranks  had 
been  depleted  and  our  men  were  more  debilitated  than 
they  were  at  those  earlier  dates.  And  besides  we  were 
feeling  the  discouragement  and  chagTin  of  a  double 
defeat. 

And  further  if  that  pi'oposed  assault  liad  been  niade 
and  had  resulted  disastrously,  there  is  every  likelihood 
that  Gai'dner  would  have  beeii  end)oldene(l  to  attack  us 
ill  front  while  Logan,  and  ]»ossil)ly  (Ireen  after  crossing 
the  river,  would  have  made  an  assault  upon  us  in  the 
rear.  If  that  had  been  done  the  chances  were  many  fold 
that  (TaidiKM-,  as  we  have  suggested,  would  have  dictated 


NKW    HAM  I'siii  i;e  volttnteeks.  248 

terms  of  surreiider  to  ]>a]iks  instciKl  of  l^tuiks  dictntiiii;- 
tlieiii  to  (laiduer. 

We  nie  fully  awnre  of  the  fact  tliat  eiforts  have  l)een 
made  to  excuse  the  two  assaults  that  had  been  made  and 
the  third  one  that  was  pi'ojjosed,  on  the  ground  that  a 
lariie  nund)er  of  tlie  troo]^s  in  the  Nineteenth  Army 
(Jorps  were  nine-months'  men  whose  time  of  enlistment 
ali'eady  had  ex})ii'ed  or  was  abont  to  expire,  and  that 
their  \\itli(li'awal  wonld  so  weaken  tlie  army  that  the 
ti()o[)s  lemaining  wonld  be  forced  to  raise  the  siege  and 
return  to  New  Orleans. 

But  the  gi'eat  majoi'ity  of  those  nine-nioni lis"  men 
never  would  have  left  (xenei'al  Banks  in  su(di  distress, 
and  lie  must  have  known  it.  There  were  some  of  those 
men  wlio  without  coni])laint  already  had  over-served 
their  time,  andscnneof  them,  inclnding  those  of  tlie  Six- 
teenth, had  signified  their  intention,  withont  regard  to 
their  term  of  enlistment,  to  remain  nntil  the  peril  then 
threatening  our  army  was  passed. 

We  onglit  in  all  fairness  to  add  that  donbtless  the 
peril  threatening  New  Orleans  which  was  at  that  time 
very  great  also  may  have  intiuenced  F>anks  in  making  the 
assanlt  on  Port  Hndson. 

Under  dateof  Jnly  fonrth,  ]S(;;>,  (ieneral  Emory  wiote 
thus  to  I'anks  : — 

''  1  i'es|)ectfully  suggest  that,  nid(^ss  Port  Ilndsoi:  be 
ali'eady  taken  you  can  save  this  city  (New  Orleans)  only 
by  sending  me  reinfortM'ments  immediately  and  at  any 
cost.  It  is  a  choice  l)etween  Port  Hudson  and  New 
Orleans." 


244  IIISTOKV    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KE(ii:\IEXT 

But  tlie  risk  of  a  tliird  assault  we  insist  was  too  great 
notwitlistajiding  the  pevil  threatening  ])oth  I'oi-t  Hudson 
and  New  Oideans,  for  in  case  of  faihu'e,  the  then  exist- 
ing peril  would  have  been  multiplied  many  fold. 

General  iianks  doubtless  was  gratified  that  his  appeal 
met  a  noble  response,  nearly  nine  hundred  men  immedi- 
ately enlisting  for  the  perilous  undfitaking. 

Soon  after  its  enrolment  that  volunteer  company,  "The 
Storming  ('olumn,"'  went  into  camp  at  the  north  of  Port 
Hudson. 

June  thirteenth,  (leneral  Banks  in  expectation  that 
the  assault  was  about  to  l)e  made,  addressed  in  the 
following  words  quite  a  coni})any  of  the  officers  and  men 
of  the  Storming  Column  who  hadasseudded  fortliat  i)U]- 
pose  near  headquarters  : — 

'\So/d/rrs  /  As  I  look  in  your  face.s,  I  read  suffering;  I  see 
marks  of  trial  ;  and  yet  I  see  determination — patience  !  No 
soldiers  ever  had  a  nobler  record  than  those  who  compose  the  Army 
of  the  Gulf.  Beginning  with  nothing,  it  has  created  itself,  until 
it  is  far  superior  in  power  to  any  army  of  its  size  in  the  United 
States. 

"You  have  actually  marched  more  than  five  hundred  miles, 
.scattered  the  enemy  to  the  winds  wherever  you  have  found  him  ; 
utterly  destroyed  his  army  and  nav3%  and  now  you  hold  him 
captive  for  the  last  and  greatest  triumph.  Never  were  you  called 
to  nol)ler  duty  than  that  now  resting  upon  you. 

"  Open  the  Mississippi  river,  give  jo}'  to  the  country  and  receive 
shouts  of  joy  such  as  have  never  been  borne  to  any  branch 
of  the  Union  army,  and  the  reward  God  ever  gives  to  those  who 
go  forth  to  defend  the  country's  rights. 

"A  little  more  than  a  month  ago  you  found  the  eneni}'  in  the 
open  countr}-  far  awa}'  from  these  .scenes.  Now  he  is  hemmed  in 
and  surrounded.  A  few  days  ago  we  could  neither  .'■"ee  bastion, 
parapet  or  citadel. 


S 


NEW    irA:\IPSllIRK    VOLUNTEERS.  245 

"  Now  all  is  changed  !  Our  guns  range  all  over  the  works.  We 
stand  here  and  look  over  at  the  enemy  face  to  face.  It  was  when 
we  were  at  a  distance,  when  we  had  to  cover  the  laljyrinth  of 
ravine,  hill  and  bayou  that  our  i)rothers  fell  in  large  nunil^ers. 

'  'Our  position  is  one  now  of  perfect  safety  in  contrast.  Look  about 
yon  ;  right,  left,  front  and  rear,  our  flag  is  on  the  threshold  ot  his 
works.  What  remains  is,  to  close  upon  him  and  secure  him 
within  our  grasp.  We  want  the  close  hug  !  When  you  get  an 
enemy's  head  under  your  arm,  you  can  pound  him  at  your  will. 
Let  us  go  in  then  and  he  can  never  beat  us  back.  The  hug  he 
will  never  recover  from,  until  the  Devil,  the  arch  Rebel,  gives  him 
his  own  ! 

"All  about  me  I  see  written  determination — will — courage — 
that  will  conquer  !  and  who  doesn't  know  that  our  cause  is  the 
best  under  the  sun  ? 

"  Whenever  the  tidings  of  our  triumph  goes  forth,  you  will  hear 
a  shout  such  as  you  never  heard.  We  hear  that  the  Rebel  army 
is  moving  North  from  Virginia,  spreading  out  into  the  borders  of 
the  states  beyond  the  Potomac.  This  will  necessarily  depress 
those  at  home. 

"But  how  will  their  hearts  be  cheered  and  how  will  they 
shower  their  blessings  upon  you  when  they  hear  the  news  of  your 
triumph.  Your  names  will  be  entered  upon  the  archives  of  your 
country — art  will  perpetuate  your  struggles. 

"This  siege — the  coming  struggle  and  victory — all  will  be 
carried  down  to  posterity.  Their  pride  will  be  that  their  friends 
were  present  at  the  conflict  that  results  in  the  opening  of  the 
Mississippi. 

"You  deserve  rest  !  You  have  earned  it  ;  but  I  must  ask  you 
with  power  and  force  to  finish  the  work  you  commenced  April  first 
at  Berwick  Make  a  record  for  your-elves  and  children,  and  then 
take  the  rest  you  have  earned.  I  have  come  to  ask  3'ou  to  prepare 
yourself  for  the  last  great  struggle. 

"  Go  forward  with  ordinary  exhdMtion  of  spirit  and  strength, 
and  victory  is  yours.  The  enemy  of  your  country  will  be  your 
captive.  Your  flag  will  wave  over  the  battlements  of  Port 
Hudson.  Open  the  Mississijipi  river,  and  the  rebellion  is  at  an 
end.     Your  fathers,  mothers,    sisters,    all   will  hail  the  news  with 


246  TIISTOIIY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEOllNfENT 

delight  and  bless  you  forever.  You  have  suffered  deprivations, 
you  have  made  great  sacrifices;  but  after  it,  comes  glory,  and  after 
glory,  rest  !  Buckle  on  the  armor  then,  make  this  one  more  great 
exertion. 

"I  assure  you,  in  the  name  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  that  you  can  confer  a  favor  no  greater  upon  your  country 
than  this  !  no  appeal  that  I  can  make  can  express  the  importance 
of  this  movement.  Give  us  one  more  effort  and  we  will  whip  the 
enemy  until  desolation  shall  leave  him  as  naked  as  the  vulgar  air." 

Til  this  address  as  it  must  be  confessed  Banks,  as  tlie 
sayino-  o-oes,  i)ut  his  best  foot  forward  a,nd  made  out  a 
ease  quite  as  strong  as  the  facts  would  warrant  ;  indeed 
stronger,  in  some  respects,  as  every  soldier  wlio  \N'as  there 
l)er()re  Port  Hudson  and  who  had  l)een  a  careful  ()l)server, 
must  have  felt. 

The  foui'th  of  July,  ISOH,  was  decided  u])oi]  for  that 
hnal  assault.  Accordingly  on  the  thiid  of  July  (lenerais 
Banks,  Weitzel,  Grover,  Granger,  Emory  and  several  of 
their  staff  officers,  and  the  officers  of  many  of  the  regi- 
ments, visited  the  camp  of  the  "Forlorn  Hope"  and 
received  messages  from  the  boys  for  the  "dear  ones  at 
home.''  (xood-byes  and  farewells  were  soi'rowfully  ex- 
changed, for  no  one  could  reasonably  expec^t  that  any  of 
those  volunteers  if  the  atta(dv  were  made  would  escape 
death,  wounds,  oi'  (U)nfederate  prisons. 

(leneral  ]^)anks  on  that  occasion  addressed  the  volun- 
teers, saying  suggestively  among  other  things  "  tliat 
when  their  ranks  were  l)roken  they  would  better  go  to 
their  several  t<Mits.  write  letters  to  tlieii-  friends  and 
loved  ones  at  home,  and  then  rest  in  preparation  for  the 
duties  of  the  morrow." 


NEW     IIAMI'SHMJK    VOLT^NTEKK'S.  247 

Tli(^  assniilf  was  to  be  made  at  daybivak  and  tliey, 
poor  iiieii,  were  pi'oiiiised  lliat  they  ""  should  eat  bivak- 
i'ast  inside  the  rebel  works." 

The  long  roll  was  sounded  at  hall'  }tast  two  in  the 
morning,  and  each  inend)ei-  of  the  ''Storming  ('olumn" 
silently  took  his  place  in  the  line  ready  to  ineet  the 
l)loody  fate  that  surely  awaited  him  if  the  attacdv  wei'e 
made. 

General  Banks  and  staiT  soon  after  a[)peared.  He  rode 
down  the  line  and  back,  then  to  a  point  near  the  center 
where  he  halted.  Hat  in  hand  lie  then  saluted  the  men. 
He  next  deliberately  drew  from  his  l)rea,st  ]K)cket  a 
des})atch  fi'om  General  (li-ant  announcing  the  fall  of 
Vicksl)urg  and  in  a  nu>st  im})i-essive  manner  I'ead  it  to 
the  troo})s. 

(xeneral  P)anks  then  said  to  the  volunteers  that  in  view 
of  the  fall  of  Vicksbui'g.  I  lie  coutem})lated  assault  would 
be  post})one(l  until  further  orders.  Fortunate  provi- 
dence I     We  had  l)een  spared  another  sacrifice. 

The  men  I'etired  again  to  their  tents.  Many  of  theni 
having  passed  a  wakeful  night  quickly  fell  asleep,  and 
dreamed,  and  woke  not  to  the  horrid  din  and  roar  of 
battle  and  scenes  of  carnage,  but  to  honorable  mention, 
which  they  cei-tainly  des<^ived. 

AVhen  at  huigtli  the  ''  l^'oi'loi'ii  Hoi)e"  had  Ihe  merited 
honor  ol"  leading  the  other  troops  as  they  entei'ed  Pcu't 
Hudson  to  take  jiossessioii  aftc^r  its  surivmb^i-,  no  one 
was  in(din(Ml  to  raise  an  objection. 

The  Sixteenth  reginu'iit  coutiil)uted  to  the  ''  Forloi'ii 
Hope"    the    following   o(iic('i-s   and    men:    Com[)any   A, 


;^48  IIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

(V)]'|)()i:il  Daniel  (L  Dacey  ;  Company  B,  Private  Edwiiid 
,1.  Wiley;  Company  C,  Lieutenant  P^dward  J.  O'Don- 
nell,  Corporal  Clinton  Eoliannon  and  Private  Asa  Enr- 
i;es.s  ;  Company  F,  Lieutenant  Ed<;ar  E.  Adams  ;  Com- 
])any  IT,  Captain  John  L.  Rice;  Company  K,  Corj^oial 
AVilliam  A.  Rand  and  Private  Rufus  L.  Jones.  The 
name  of  Corporal  Rand  appears  first  on  that  I'oU. 

AVhile  according  all  lu'aise  to  those  brave  men  of  our 
own  leginient  and  to  their  comrades  from  other  regi- 
ments, we  cast  no  reflections  upon  those  who  declined  to 
answer  the  call  of  General  Banks.  There  was  no  lack 
of  courage  but  many  of  our  men  believed  there  would  be 
simply  another  waste  of  life  with  nothing  gained  by  the 
assault.  If  ordered  to  make  an  attack  our  troops  would 
have  obeyed,  but  they  did  not  care  to  volunteer  in  what 
seemed  to  them  to  be  a  hopeless  and  useless  undertaking. 

As  everybody  who  knew  anything  of  the  Department 
of  the  Gulf  will  acknowledge,  no  more  courageous  men 
ever  stood  in  the  ranks  of  an  army  than  those  who  com- 
posed the  Eighth  New  Hampshire  and  the  Fourth  Wis- 
consin regiments.  Yet  only  three  men  from  the  former 
and  only  one  from  the  latter  regiment,  volunteered  in 
that  last  proi^osed  venture  against  Port  Hudson. 

AVe  may  add  that  the  months  and  years  of  delay  in 
giving  to  those  brave  and  patriotic  volunteers  the  memo- 
rial that  was  promised  at  the  time,  is  a  well-nigh  unpar- 
donable neglect  on  the  part  of  the  United  v^tates  govern- 
ment. What  duty  is  more  imperative  than  for  a 
government  to  fulhl  its  pledges  to  those  who  offered 
themselves  in  sacrifice  to  preserve  the  Fnion  ! 


-0 

z 

o 

T, 

m 

r- 

a 

r" 
> 
z 

D 

Z 

O 


NEW    HAMPSHIKE    VOLrNTEERS.  249 

I  I.     ATTACK     AT    S  I'lIINGFI  ELD     LANI)IN(;. 

S]>riii^ii('l(l  La II dill, Li,'  is  six  or  .sp\eii  miles  distant  I'loiii 
tlie  nearest  point  to  Port  Hudson  and  was  somewhat 
further  from  (General  Banks'  liea(h|uarters.  It  was  the 
hiiidini;'  place  for  tlie  various  su})plies  intended  for  our 
troops  who  were  then  besieginsx  Port  Hudson. 

At  the  time  of  wliich  we  are  writino^,  early  in  July, 
there  were  immense  (Quantities  of  quartermasters  and 
commissary  stores,  ammunition  and  medical  supi)lies 
piled  aloiiy'  the  shore  of  tliat  landing  awaiting  transjxjr- 
tation. 

For  the  purpose  of  ])rotecting  those  supplies  the  men 
of  the  Sixteenth,  commanded  by  Captain  Hersey,  to- 
gether witli  the  One  Hundred  Sixty-Second  Ne^v  York, 
were  detached  from  the  main  army,  and  Captain  Hersey 
was  ai)})ointed  provost  marshal. 

('Onfederate  scouts,  though  appearing  at  no  point  in 
large  numbers,  constantly  had  l)een  hovering  along  the 
rotid  between  the  Lauding  and  Port  Hudson,  whi(di  ran 
for  a  larger  part  of  the  distance  tlirough  a  well-wooded 
and  deserted  country.  The  Confederate  colonel,  J.  L. 
Logan,  a  bold  and  dashing  officer,  was  raiding  in  our 
rear  and  doing  no  little  mischief.  In  his  report  to  Gen- 
eral Johnson  he  said,  "I  will  range  around  through  the 
country  and  whenever  an  o})portunity  offers,  will  strike 
the  enemy." 

Still,  an  attack  by  Logan  at  Springheld  Landing  was 
hjirdly  expected,  and  certainly  had  not  l)e<^]i  pi()\'ided 
for.     Accordingly,  on  July  second,  at  nine  o'clock  in  tlie 


250  IIISTOUV    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH     KE(;i.MENT 

mornin<i;,  our  men  were  treated  to  a  ""ennine  surprise. 
Indeed,  for  a  few  moments  there  was  consternation  amonu" 
tliem.  A  rp<:^-iment  of  Texan  rangers,  sometimes  called 
''busli  whackers,"  under  command  of  the  (^)nfedei'ate. 
('olouel  Powers,  rnnnberinii,'  from  two  to  four  hundred, 
thougli  seeuiinii-  to  our  startled  men  to  number  several 
thousands,  without  a  moment's  warning-  dashed  in  among 
our  tr()0[)S  taking  temporary  i)ossession  of  all  su]»i)lies. 
They  came  from  the  southwest  and  with  such  boldness 
tliat  the  men  on  the  [)icket  line.  beh)ngiiig  to  the  One 
Hundred  Sixty-Second  New  York,  sup})osed  at  first  that 
they  were  our  own  cavalry. 

Not  a  shot  was  tired  by  our  men  until  they  had  been 
surrounded.  As  soon  as  tlie  mistakn  was  discovered 
the  colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  Sixty-Second  New  York 
with  a  resolute  effort  attempted  to  rally  his  men,  but  all 
to  no  purpose,  at  least  so  far  as  getting  them  into  sliai)e 
to  repel  the  atta(ds:  was  concerned. 

But  his  courageous  efforts  and  energetic  commands 
appear  to  have  l)een  of  imx>ortant  ser\ice,  for  the  Con- 
federates fearing  that  the  New  York  men  were  f)eing 
ordered  into  position  to  cut  off  their  retreat,  and  suifer- 
ing  somewhat  from  the  men  of  the  Sixteenth  who  after 
the  first  surprise  had  begun  to  lire  upon  them,  escaped 
almost  as  suddenly  as  they  had  come  upon  us. 

In  Colon(d  Irwin's  report  to  General  Banks  we  were 
gratified  to  find  this  acknowledgment:  "The  i)rovost 
guard  commanded  l)y  ('a2)tain  A.  .1.  Hersey,  Sixteenth 
New  Ibnupshire  made  a  fight  fiom  behind  the  levee  and 
drove  the  enemy  off,  Ivilling   thre<-   including  a  ca[)tain 


NYAV    HAM  I'SIII  KK    VoUNTEEKS.  2.11 

and  woundino-  five  of  their  number.  Captain  Kersey's 
loss  was  three  wounded,  three  prisoners  and  one  niissinii,'.''' 

The  enemy  remained  within  our  lines  scarcely  nioi-e 
than  twenty  minutes.  They  set  hre  to  a  large  (piantity 
of  clothing  and  gai'rison  «'({uippage,  l)ut  the  l)ulk  ol'  the 
stores  were  saved,  ('olonel  Logan's  I'eport  sent  to  Kich- 
inond  that  he  had  ''l)urned  all  the  enemy's  stor<^s, 
desti'oyed  a  hundred  wagons  and  l\ilh'd  and  wounded  a 
huiidit'd  and  forty  nu^n,"'  was  of  coui-se  a  (^)nfedei-ate 
falsehood.  'idle  facts  were  (hat  they  had  tak<Mi  l»u( 
twenty  live  prisonei-.s,  oidy  three  belonging  to  the  Six- 
teenth, and  they  were  released  within  a  few  hours. 
Only  one  of  our  men,  I'l'ivate  Johnson  of  Company  (t, 
was  killed. 

'Idle  aiuhudty  (d'  that  raid,  the  little  damage  done  with 
the  o]»poi't  unity  of  doing  much,  the  ti  in  mess  with  \\  lii(di 
oiir  men  (with  two  or  three  exce])tions)  stood  th<dr 
ground,  espe(dally  those  of  the  Sixteenth,  judging  fi'om 
Irwin's  i'e})oi't  to  Hanks,  and  the  ]>recipitate  iliglit  of  the 
enemy  are  matters  of  congratulation. 

AVe  shall  be  jiistihed,  perha])S,  in  a(hling  at  this  point 
anothei"  complimentary  announcement  made  to  General 
]>anks  by  (ienei'al  Irwin.      It  came  about  in  this  way: — 

A  few  days  after  tlnit  attack  at  Springiield  Landing 
a  deta(diment  of  dust-covered  Federal  cavaliy  under  a 
dim  light  dashed  into  our  lines.  The  contrabands  under 
our  charge,  of  wdiom  thei'e  were  almost  a  multitude,  be- 
gan the  cry — ''  'Idle  llebs — the  Ilebs — are  coming."  This 
was  echoed  by  hundreds  of  others  and  created  a  [)anic  ; 
there  was  a  wild  laish   of  negroes,  teams,  teanistei's  and 


252  TTTSTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

frightened  soldiers.  Speakini;-  of  tliat  affair  Colonel 
Irwin  in  his  report  to  Banks  says:  "At  the  l)liiff  they 
weie  stopped  by  the  bayonets  of  the  Sixteentli  New 
Hampshire  which  formed  with  great  ])romi)titude  behind 
the  levee." 

III.      DEFENCE    OF    FOET    JH'TLEII    AT    DONALDSONVILLE. 

It  will  l)e  remembered  by  the  reader  that  at  the  time 
the  Sixteentli  left  Bntte  a  la  Eose,  many  of  the  men 
being  too  enfeebled  to  proceed  with  the  regiment  to  Port 
Hudson  were  left,  some  at  l^rashear  City,  others  at  Al- 
giers, while  the  larger  part  were  taken  to  ]S"ew  Orleans 
and  placed  in  a  r(H)my  bnt  not  very  inviting  l)uilding 
that  in  former  days  had  l)een  used  as  a  cof'on  press. 

Still,  the  men  having  snitable  food  and  fairly  good 
nursing,  and  being  })rotected  from  rain  and  malarial 
poisons,  had  really  no  grounds  for  comi)laint  and  many 
of  them,  owing  to  their  lifedong  temperate  hal)its  and 
their  naturally  vigoi'ous  constitutions,  rallied,  as  they 
had  at  other  times,  surprisingly  quick  and  felt  them- 
selves ready  for  service  though  really  far  less  (jualitied 
for  it  than  they  imagined  themselves  to  l)e. 

Not  many  days  had  passed  after  their  arrival  at  New 
Oi'h^aiis  when  there  came  a  most  pressing  call  for  our 
men  and  other  convalescents  to  go  up  the  liver  to  ])on- 
aldsonville,  which  was  then  threatened  by  the  enemy, 
there  being  at  the  time  no  other  availal)le  troops  that 
could  be  had  for  its  defence.  Eighty  men  of  the  Six- 
teenth, as  Comrade  J.  V.  Heath,  Comjiany  !>,  who  was 
among  the  nund)er.  re2)orts.  answered  the  call. 


NEW    HAM  PSIIIKK    VOLrNTEEKS.  2i53 

It  ought  to  be  said,  liowever,  that  C-oiiiradc  II.  L. 
Johnson  of  Conii)any  H.  ^\h()  also  was  anioiig  the  num- 
ber, thinks  tliere  were  I'ewei-  of  our  men  tlian  tlie  esti- 
mate of  Comrade  Ib^ath  indicates,  and  we  ratliei-  incline 
to  the  opinion  of  Johnson.  The  exact  nund)er  is  per- 
ha])s  of  no  material  ini]>oi'tance,  thoua,li  the  number  of 
the  volunteers  from  our  regiment  as  compared  with  that 
from  others  must  have  been  large. 

l^nfortunately  the  roster  made  l)y  Sergeant  (x.  P.  Cot- 
ton of  tlie  Sixteenth,  to  whom  on  leaving  New  Orleans 
for  Donaldsonville  was  given  the  command  of  all  the 
convalescents  from  the  vai'ious  regiments,  cannot  since 
his  death,  be  found,  though  every  effort  has  been  uuide 
to  secure  it.  Comrade  Johnson,  after  these  many  inter- 
vening years  is  al)le  to  recall  with  certainty  the  follow- 
ing names  : 

Sergeant,    (xeorge  P.   Cotton, 
Cor2)oral,    Lewis  F.   Davis, 
---'--  im;i\ates. 

Leonidas  J.  Avery,  Ranson  ITandy, 

Charles  G.  f)avis,  .     Joseph  P.  Heath. 

James  W.  Cross,  Ezra  F.  Johnson, 

Nathaniel  1).  Farnsworth,      Henry  L.  Johnson, 
George  P.  Jones. 

It  is,  x>«i'haps.  no  matter  of  surju-ise  but  certainly  is  a 
nnitter  of  regret,  that  oidy  these  names  of  the  men  (d' 
the  Sixteenth  can  l)e  enrolled  among  those  who  defended 
that  foi'tilicatioii.  The  only  full  record  as  we  have  said 
is  lost  and  most  of  the  men  are  loni::  since  dead. 


254  HI^^TOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Donaldsonville  is  on  the  Mississippi  river,  at  the 
confluence  of  tlie  La  Fourche  l^ayou,  and  is  abont 
equidistant  from  Port  Hudson  and  Xew  Orleans.  OAving 
to  its  location  it  fiii-ured  iirst  and  last  during  the 
several  campaigns  in  Louisiana  as  a  place  of  (M)nsideral)le 
strategic  importance. 

Quite  early  in  the  war  it  was  determined  by  the  Fed- 
eral authorities  to  fortify  it,  and  accordingly  a  fort  was 
built  and  named  Fort  J^utler  in  honor  of  General 
Benjamin  F.  Butler  whom  the  people  of  the  southwest 
hated  more  intensely  than  they  did  any  other  because 
he  was  dis2:)osed  to  handle  welhknown  Confederates 
without  gloves. 

The  fortification  was  remarkably  well  built  and  com- 
manded the  approaches  on  all  sides.  Fort  liutler  had 
been  garrisoned  late  in  June,  1868,  by  porti<uis  only,  of 
two  companies  of  the  Twenty-Eighth  Maine  under  com- 
mand of  Major  .1.   I),  l^ullen. 

Our  convalescent  recruits  of  the  Sixteenth  had  been  at 
Donaldsonville  scarcely  a  week  when  the  Confederate 
General,  Thomas  Green  of  Texas,  a  very  (dever  leader 
and  fighter  who  had  been  raiding  that  part  of  Louisiana 
since  the  re-occupation  of  Teche  country  by  the  Con- 
federates, ajjpeared  in  the  rear  of  Fort  Butler  with  his 
Texan  troops  who  w^ere  rough  (dad,  excepting  those  wdio 
were  dressed  in  the  uniforms  of  I^nion  soldiers,  probaldy 
taken  in  theii-  laids  (ui  JJrashear  City,  but  though 
roughly  clad  these  'fexans  were  brave  and  resolute 
fighters. 

On  the  afternoon  of  June  twenty  seventh,  under  a  flag 


of  truce,  General  (xref^ii  (leniaiKh'd  an  micoiiditiitaal  and 
iiijiiiediate  surrendei-  of  flie  ["orr. 

Major  ]^ulleii  t]iei'eii])on  called  together  the  gan-ison 
and  while  they  were  standing  about  the  Hag-staff  asked 
whether  the  flag  should  be  2)ulled  down  oi"  left  hanging. 
*'  It  was  one  of  the  boys  of  the  Sixteenth,''  says  ( 'omradii 
Heath  "who  speaking  for  the  rest  said,  '  Never  pull  it 
down  ;  Let  it  hang  I  "  The  ^Nlajor  then  replied  '  It  shall 
hang  there  as  long  as  thei'e  is  a  man  of  you  left  to  del'(Mid 
it/  '' 

Fortunately  at  that  juncture  a  trans})ort  steamer  from 
New  Orleans  having  onboai-d  afewoflicei-s  and  men  who 
were  returning  to  their  regiments  at  Port  Hudson,  called 
at  Donaldsonville.  They  were  informed  of  the  situation 
and  Major  Bullen  ashed  if  tliere  were  any  commissioned 
officers  on  l)oard  who  could  be  s})ared  to  assist  in  the 
defence  of  the  garrison  against  the  expected  attack  '. 
Two  lieutenants  volunteered  ami   the  steamer  departed. 

A  few  moments  later  (Tcneral  (Ireen  was  infoi'uied  of 
the  decision  of  the  garrison.  He  sent  back  word  to 
remove  the  non-combatants  immediately,  and  added  ''no 
prisoners  will  be  taken.'' 

Five  hnndred  of  his  men  meanwhile  had  v()lunteer(:'d 
to  take  the  fort  by  storming  it.  They  made  tfi<^  attacdv 
a  little  past  one  oNdoidv  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty- 
eiglith  of  June. 

The  first  assault  was  on  the  stockade  at  our  left,  and 
though  we  wei'(-  exposed  to  the  raking  lire  from  the 
enemy's  shar])-shooters  who  were  posted  on  the  op[)osite 
side  of  the  bayou,  still  the  stockad(.'S  at  that  i)oint  were 


256  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    EEOIMENT 

gallantly  and  courageously  defended  by  our  men,  tlie 
larger  nunil)er  of  wlioni  were  from  the  ^ixteentli. 

Tlie  second  attack  thirty  minutes  later,  was  on  our 
right.  That  assault  Avas  determined  and  fierce,  but  tlie 
2)osition  was  heroically  defended,  the  larger  number  of 
the  defenders  at  that  point  being  fi'oni  tlie  state  of  Maine. 

It  was  in  tliat  attack  tliat  one  (jf  tlie  lieutenants  who,  on 
the  way  up  the  river  the  day  l)ef()re  had  volunteered  to 
stop  over,  was  killed  l)y  a  bullet  through  his  neck,  and 
the  other  one  a  little  later  was  mortally  wounded  by  a 
large  shot  that  jiassed  through  his  face  nearly  severing  his 
tongue  ;  he  was  removed  to  New  Orleans  that  afternoon. 

In  the  fight  Sergeant  Cotton  was  hit  by  a  bullet  just 
over  his  heart  l)ut  his  roll  l)()ok  deadened  the  force. 
The  sergeant  carried  for  some  time  the  mai'k  of  the  shot 
where  the  bullet  struck  ;  the  bullet  together  with  his 
roll  book,  as  evidence  of  his  narrow  escape,  were  fre- 
quently shown  to  his  comrades  and  friends. 

While  the  second  attack  was  in  jirogress,  some  of  our 
Sixteenth  men  who  were  ahuost  too  siclv  to  keep  their 
feet,  showed,  nevertheless,  theii'  fighting  qualities,  for 
without  orders  they  crawled  along  the  embankment  to 
the  x^osition  held  by  the  men  from  Maine,  and  helped  to 
defend  that  point  from  the  enemy  who  wei-e  doing  their 
utmost  to  caii'y  it.  The  firing  coutiuufMl  until  daylight 
when  it  slacked  for  the  most  pai-t.  and  the  main  body  of 
the  enemy  ai)parently  withdrew. 

During  the  fighting  that  night,  as  afterwards  it  was 
ascertained,  some  of  the  Sixteenth  men  liad  iis^"d  from 
seventy  to  eighty  rounds  of  ammunition. 


J 


Ki-:\v  irAMi'SiriKE  voi.rNTi:KHs.  257 

Tlu'  ill-l'ated   Major  Bullen  before  his  death  made  the 
followiiiu'  ]'e|)oi't  of  that  fii'st  day's  fighting': 

"At  iialf-l)ast  oiK^  A.  M.,  .1  uiie  twenty-eighth,  oiii- 
|)i(d\ets  were  tired  on  by  tliose  of  tlie  enenn^  and  during 
tli<di'  I'tdreat  the  guns  of  tlie  fort  and  those  of  tlie  gun- 
boat Princess  Rotjal  under  command  of  ('ai)tain  Wool- 
sey,  opened  on  the  appi'oa(diing  enemy.  13ut  tlieir  forces 
moved  steadil>'  forward  and  in  a  short  time  Captain  E. 
B.  Niel,  to  wlioni  J  had  entrusted  the  defence  of  the  left 
entrance  to  tlie  fort,  received  a  tendble  fire  fi'om  the 
eiKMuy,  who  came  up  on  the  opposite  baidv  of  the  Bayoii 
La  Four(die  to  a  i)oint  where  they  could  lire  on  his  llaidv 
which  was  wholly  unprotected  ;  but  the  gallant  cax)tain 
and  his  command  endured  the  fire  Avithout  wavering  and 
replied  with  vigoi'  which,  with  the  assistance  of  one  of 
the  guns  of  the  fort  drove  them  back  in  disorder. 
Almost  simultaneously  with  the  attack  on  our  left,  the 
enemy  made  a  vigorous  assault  in  front  of  both  entrances 
of  the  fort  with  a  large  force.  On  the  left  they  were 
bravely  repulsed  by  Captain  Neil.  Captain  Thompson, 
to  whom  I  had  given  the  defence  of  the  right  entrance, 
after  a  severe  engagement  under  great  disadvantages  and 
with  a  number  many  times  exceeding  his  own,  was  com- 
X)elled  to  withdraw  to  the  inner  works,  where  the  cap- 
tain and  his  command  witli  the  gi'eatest  desperation 
fought  the  enemy  who  in  large  nund)ers  had  succeeded 
in  getting  within  the  outer  works. 

'•During  the  hot  fire  on  the  left  Lieutenant  ^lundi  of 
Ca[)tain  Thompson's  company,  was  in  command  of  one 
of    the    reserves    and   was    ordered    to   suppoi't   Cai)tain 


258  irT^^Toiir  or  the  sixteextii  uegimext 

Tlioiiipsoii,  whicli  lie  did  Avitli  the  greatest  enei'gy,  and 
after  an  houi-'s  strnggle  was  killed.  Here  also  Lieuten- 
ant Periy  was  severely  wounded. 

"My  force  was  so  small  that  the  reseives  had  now  to 
sup])ort  (Uiptain  Niel,  and  now  Captain  Thompson,  as 
the  case  denmnded.  After  an  engagement  of  three  hours 
and  a  half  some  twenty-live  of  the  enemy  at  the  left 
surrendered  and  more  than  one  hundred  on  the  right. 
A  majority  of  those  a\Tio  succeeded  in  getting  within  onr 
outer  works  made  their  esca|)e,  leaving  a  little  more 
than  one  hundred. 

"  I  cannot  speak  in  terms  of  too  high  commendation  of 
my  gallant  officers  and  my  brave  men  who  fought  against 
so  great  a  superiority  of  numbers  with  unaccountable 
energy  and  endurance. 

"•Of  the  enemy  we  have  buried  more  than  lifty  that  we 
gathered  uj)  just  without  and  Avithin  our  outer  works. 
Twenty -five  of  their  wounded  we  found  Avhere  we 
gathered  up  their  dead.  The  remainder  were  borne  away 
by  the  retreating  forces.  The  number  must  have  been 
large.  Two  deserters  came  in  yesterday  and  stated  that 
the  enemy  acknowledged  a  loss  of  five  hundred  killed 
and  wounded." 

Not  long  after  completing  this  repoi'l  the  majoi-  who 
had  incurred  the  dis})leasure  of  some  of  the  men,  Avas 
treacherously  shot  by  one  of  our  own  soldiers,  Private 
Francis  Scott  of  Comi)any  F,  First  Louisiana  Regiment, 
who  at  the  time  was  somewhat  under  the  influence  of 
liquor.  8cott  Avas  at  once  ari'ested  and  sent  to  NeAv 
Orleans  Avhere  he  Avas  tried  and  shot  for  his  ciime. 


New   11  am  I'siii  i;k  volinteeiis.  250 

Cleiiei'al  (Ti-een  iiiuliiiu' that  his  live  Imiidi't'd  volunteers 
were  not  siitlicieiit  to  capture  tlie  i'oi't,  and  eni'a.ii'ed  at  liis 
losses  massed  his  entire  force  nuiuhering  at  that  time 
nearly  i'orirteen  hundred  men  ar.d  followed  cautiously 
down  the  banks  of  the  river  in  c()nh<leiu'e  of  making  tiie 
ca])tnre. 

But  fortunately  for  ns  the  very  night  on  which  that 
attack  was  planned,  one  of  the  Fedei-al  gunboats,  watcdi- 
ing  for  a  movement  of  that  kind,  discovered  the  where- 
abouts of  the  (%)nfederates  and  under  cover  of  tlie  fog 
got  in  })osition  and  gave  them  a  broadside  that  caused  a 
general  stampede. 

Those  of  the  enemy  avIio  were  still  in  position  to  light 
us,  together  with  others  who  from  time  to  time  had 
joined  them  finding  that  the  main  body  of  their  com- 
rades had  retired  during  the  night,  waved. a  white  flag  at 
daylight.  They  were  asked  "What  is  wanted  T'  and 
replied  "  We  wish  to  surrender."  They  were  required 
to  lay  down  their  arms  where  they  were.  They  then 
liled  into  the  fort  and  gave  their  names.  Thongh  they  did 
not  know  the  fact,  and  it  is  well  for  us  that  they  did  not 
yet  they  numbered  more  effective  men  than  those  to 
whom  they  had  surrendered  themselves  prisonei's. 

Afte]'  looking  about  for  a  few  moments  and  seeing 
scarcely  any  ti'oo[)s,  they  asked  "Where  are  your  men  T' 
"Oh,  they  are  at  l)reakfast  ;  some  of  them  have  gone 
for  water  and  otiieis  are  secreted  where  they  can  lix 
Clreen  if  he  makes  another  atta(d\."  Those  wei-e  false- 
hoods but  were  told  on  the  fallacious  ground  that  in 
war  all  thiim's  are  fair. 


2{)()  ItlSToUV    <>F    THE    SIXTEENTH    IJEGIMKNT 

There  can  l)e  no  (l()nl)t  tliat  if  the  weakness  of  the 
^•anison  really  had  been  known,  those  men  wonkl  not 
have  surrendered.  They  liad  been  completely  fooled 
during  the  day  and  night  by  Petitions  commands  like 
these: — "Colonel  Smith  move  your  regiment  to  the 
left  and  hold  your  lire  till  the  enemy  are  in  easy  range." 
"Colonel  Littlejohn,  keep  a  sharp  outlook  and  be  ready 
with  your  command  to  make  an  assault."  Many  such 
orders  were  uiven  to  regimental  and  company  com- 
manders  who  had  no  existence  except  in  the  imagina- 
tion of  the  Yankees  who  held  the  fort  and  gave  the 
commands. 

Fortunately  soon  after  the  Confederates  had  surrend- 
ered, a  snuill  gunboat,  No.  2,  which  formerly  was  the 
blockade  runner,  "'  Prir/crss  J^of/al/^  came  down  the 
river  and  I'elieved  us  of  oui'  prisoners.  Tlien  our  boys 
breatlied  easier  for  up  to  that  time  they  had  been  in 
mortal  dread  that  those  Texans  discovering  the  weak- 
ness of  the  garrison  would  spring  u|ion,  and  disarm  the 
guards  and  have  the  fort  and  its  defenders  in  their  own 
hands. 

(reneral  (Ij-een's  plans  meantime  were  unlvuown.  The 
fear  was  that  he  would  return  at  any  hour  with  perhaps 
an  additional  force,  and  if  so  our  men,  though  slightl}^ 
reinforced,  June  twenty-ninth,  l)y  a  few  men  from  the 
Twenty -Eighth  Maine  and  the  Louisiana  First  who  com- 
pensated for  the  loss  to  our  forces  during  the  lighting  of 
the  previous  day  and  night,  could  not  seemingly  have 
held  out  if  tliere  had  l)een  another  assault.  And  what 
made  matters  still  worse  for  us  was    that  the  enemy  had 


NKW    HAAfPSiriKE    VOLT^XTEERS.  261 

planted  batteries  on  tlie  livei' l)(»tli  al)(>ve  and  below  Doii- 
aldsonville  wliieh  (iuite  ell'ectually  cut  oil"  all  transport 
navio-ation  unless  attended  l)y  gunboats. 

In  that  ci-itical  condition  of  affairs  our  men  fi'oiii  .Iiiik^ 
twenty-eiiilith  to  .1  uly  nintli  were  kept  on  duty  almost 
constantly,  dny  and  niglit.  Tliey  slept  l)eliind  the  en- 
trenchments with  muskets  in  their  hands  and  even 
C()(dved  and  ate  their  rations  with    their  ecpiipments    on. 

And  yet  strange  and  odd  as  it  may  seem,  those  more 
tlian  half-exhausted  and  almost  imprisoned  troops  on  the 
moi'iiing  of  July  fourth  resolved  to  lire  the  national  sa- 
lute. Accordingly  they  arranged  a  protection  for  the 
gunners  and  began  the  firing. 

With  almost  every  discharge  the  Confederates,  who 
were  lying  right  under  the  guns  on  the  otlier  side  of  the 
eml)ankment,  would  utter  their  oaths  at  the  patriotism 
of  the  "damned  Yankees"  who  were  suffocating  them  Avitli 
smoke  and  deafening  tlieni  with  the  din  of  the  cannon. 
The  entire  salute,  however,  was  tired,  which  doubtless 
gave  the  impression  to  the  enemy  that  we  had  an  ample 
supply  of  ammunition  left  and  plenty  of  strength  to  use  it. 

It  may  well  l)e  questioned  if  the  Confederate  troops 
ever  met  su(di  a  determined  resistance,  couided  with  so 
much  out  and  out  l)luff  as  that  which  confronted  them 
•at  Donaldsonville. 

It  was  some  time  during  that  fourth  of  July  that  the 
officer  who  succeeded  Major  Bullen  as  commandant  of 
the  fort,  expressed  in  the  presence  of  some  of  our  Six- 
teenth boys  a  desii'e  foi-  certain  infornuition  that  in  vain 
he  had  souaht  to  obtain. 


262  IIISTOnY    OP"    THE    SIXTEEXTIT    IIEGl:\[E]SrT. 

One  of  file  youii^'est  of  the  number  offered  to  make  the 
attempt  to  seciire  it.  The  commander  in  re})ly  chaffed 
the  volunteer  a  li)it  owing,  perhaps,  to  liis  extreme  youth- 
ful appearance.  "  Wliat  can  you  do  '''.  "  was  the  question 
of  flie  commander.  "Anything  you  say,"  was  the  quick 
]-eply.  "  I  wish  then,'*  said  the  officer,  "you  would  liiid 
whei'e  (leneral  (Ireen  is  and  what  he  is  going  to  do,"  "I 
will,"  replied  the  boy. 

The  commander  scarcely  expected  that  such  a  fool- 
hardy attempt  would  be  made  and  dismissed  the  matter 
from  his  mind.  The  next  morning  very  early  the  youth- 
ful soldier  visited  the  officer's  tent  with  tlie  information 
that  Greeji  was  in  a  certain  farm  house,  giving  the  loca- 
tion, and  that  he  was  intending  to  attack  the  fort  at  one 
o'clock  that  day.  The  officer  laughed.  The  young- 
soldier  remarked,  '•  Would  it  not  be  well  for  you  to  get 
ready  r' 

The  officer  studied  for  a  moment  the  face  of  the  boy, 
and  became  thoughtful.  Shortly  after  the  foregoing- 
conversation  matters  were  put  in  readiness  for  an  attack 
and  at  one  o'clock  every  available  man  was  in  position. 
Hardly  had  that  been  done  when  Green,  who  doubtless 
had  reasoned  that  at  that  hour  the  garrison  would  be 
easily  surprised,  suddenly  appeared  and  began  the 
attack.  To  his  astonishment  and  disnuiy  he  found  that 
our  men  were  fully  prepared  as  if  <^xi)ecting  the  attack 
and  so  successfully  met  it  tluit  he  fell  ])a(dv  to  consider 
what  next  to  do. 

The  facts  were  these  ;  that  Sixteenth  boy,  of  whom  we 
have  s[)oken,  soon  after  his  conversation  with   the  com- 


NEW     II  A.AI  I'SIII  i;K    VoU'NTKEUS.  '>(')',] 

iiiiiiidiim'  office!',  :ni(l  iif'ter  chirk,  passed  niroiitili  our 
picket  lilies  and  l)y  a  "  pie<'e  of  L^ood  luclv''  as  lie  says, 
though  evidently  by  sheer  daiini;-,  discovered  the  farm 
house  where  were  stopping  (leneral  (Ireen  and  his  stall". 

He  hung  about  and  by  creeping  under  fences,  cdind)- 
ing  trees  and  by  other  devices  and  adventnres  that  seem 
almost  to  incredulous  for  any  one  to  believe,  ol)tained 
the  desired  information  and  actually  overheard  the 
words  of  General  Green  while  he  was  planning  the 
attack  for  the  next  day,  and  among  other  things  heard 
him  say,  "  I  will  enter  that  foi-t  if  T  have  to  cut  my  way 
witli  an  axe."  Gi'een  probably  when  using  those  words 
had  in  mind  the  cutting  of  the  upright  timbers  that 
formed  the  stockade  that  greatly  had  bothered  his  men  in 
the  previous  assault.  After  getting  this  information 
our  young  v(dunteer  returned  passing  through  the 
enemy's  and  our  own  picket  lines  reaching  the  fort 
some  time  before  daylight. 

AVe  would  be  glad  to  give  the  name  of  that  youthful 
hero,  now  of  course  well  on  in  years,  but  he  has  emphat- 
ically retpiested  the  historian  to  withhold  for  the  present 
its  i)ub]ication. 

The  close  of  the  siege  of  Donahlsonville  is  described 
in  the  following  wolds  by  Comiade  J.  P.  Heath:  "One 
morning  when  looking  \\\)  tlie  ri^'er  we  saw  a  large 
quantity  of  smoke  which  we  wat(died  with  much 
interest,  l^oon  three  oi'  four  large  rivei'  steamers  came 
in  sight  and  swung  in  towards  us.  We  could  see 
soldiers  on  board  dressed  in  blue. 

"  One  of  the  sreamers   canu'   near   and  made   fast  just 


264  iriSTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

nbove  tlie  f(»i't  mid  commenced  raj)idly  to  unload  her 
troops.  Tlipy  de])l()yed  and  moved  into  the  woods  at 
the  north.  'IMiey  were  just  in  time  for  (Ireen  was 
approa(diin,u'.   liis  jnckets  already  being  in  siglit. 

"We  liaih'd  the  regiment  nearest  ns  and  asked.  'Where 
are  you  I'lom  :! '  'Port  Hudson,  it  has  surrendered '  they 
replied. 

"We  aslved  'What  regiment  are  yon  of?'  They 
replied  *•  The  Eight  New  Hampshire.'  They  asked 
'  AVliat  ]'egiment  are  yon  of  'i '  Several  of  ns  replied  "  AVe 
are  of  the  Sixteentli  New  Hampshire.''  They  then  said, 
'  Ddiit  hre  again  boys  ;  we  will  take  care  of  yon  now.' 

"  We  laughed  and  we  cried,  for  deliverance  had  come. 
The  boys  belonging  to  the  gunboats  soon  landed  and 
came  into  the  fort.  They  commenced  to  ling  ns  aiul 
danced  abont  like  children  saying,  '  AVell.  boys  yon  did 
make  a  grand  light.'  " 

The  importance  of  holding  Donaldsonville  against  the 
enemy  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  as  soon  as  Port 
Hndson  snrrendered.  Banks  sent  the  troops  nnder  both 
Generals  Gardner  and  Weitzel  for  its  relief.  General 
Banks  in  making  his  report  to  General  Halleck  says  : 
"  Upon  the  snrrender  of  Port  Hndson  I  foniid  it  neces- 
sary to  move  every  available  man  to  Donaldsonville  to 
dislodge  the  enemy." 

General  Emoi-y  in  his  report  to  General  Banks  says: 
"  Onr  victory  at  Donaldsonville  was  a  brilliant  affair.'' 
In  his  report  to  Colonel  Irwin,  Emory  nses  the  words 
"An  heroic  and  biilliant  delence,"  "  There  were  "  he 
says,    "two   leduced   companies   of   the   Twenty-Eighth 


NEW  TTAAr7\>^rirrvE  a'oltxteeks.  26i) 

Maine  and  convalescents  sent  np  from  New  Orleans  to 
meet  the  enemy/'  Those  one  Imndred  and  eii^hty  men 
with  the  gnnl)oats  repelled  the  assanlt  of  the  enemy, 
taking-  one  hnndred  and  thirty  prisoners,  one  lientenant- 
colonel,  one  major,  two  cn[)t;iins,  live  lientennnts  ;  kill- 
iiiU'  and  wonnding  three  lniiidi(^d  and  iii'ty  men  among' 
whom  were  Colonel  Pliillips  and  others  of  high  i"ink. 

''By  this  rei)ulse  combined  with  that  at  La  Foiir(die, 
the  enemy  has  been  (diecked  in  his  movement  ii[)on  New 
Orleans  and  tlieattem}tt  to  cnt  connection  between  Banks 
and  his  snpplies  has  been  frnstrated." 

Says  General  Ijanks  in  a  letter  to  General  Emory  : 

"The  behavior  of  Major  Bnllen  and  the  troops  nnder 
his  command  at  Dontildsonville  was  most  creditable,  and 
has  greatly  enconraged  the  spirit  of  the  army.  It  is  a 
compensation  for  the  disgrace  that  rests  npon  Brashear." 
[He  refers  to  the  ca[)tnre  of  that  place  with  all  its  stores 
by  the  Confederates  undei'  General  Tayloi'.] 

The  official  report  as  given  1)}^  General  Stone  to  Gen- 
eral Banks  is  also  highly  complimentary.  His  woi-ds 
are  "The  troops  at  Donaldsonville  made  one  of  the  most 
brave  and  gallant  defences  that  has  come  within  my  ex- 
])erience."'  General  Stone  also  recommended  for  promo- 
tion every  officer  engaged  in  that  defence. 

The  hghting  is  so  well  attested  in  the  Confedei-ate 
I'ecoi-ds  and  has  been  so  lightly  tonched  npon  by  oiii- 
Federal  historians,  that  we  feel  jnstified  in  introdncing 
nearly  the  fnll  text  of  the  following  re[)ort  of  Brigadier- 
General  Thomas  Green  to  Major  Lonis  Bush,  assistant 
adjutant-general : 


200  TITi^Tor.Y    OF    TTIE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 


"Headquarters  First  Cavalrv  BriCxAde, 

''July  3,  /<S'<5j. 

"Major: — In  accordance  with  the  order  of  General  Mouton 
commanding  me  to  take  possession  of  the  Federal  fort  at  Donald- 
sonville,  I  took  up  the  line  of  march  from  Thibodeaux  about 
eight  o'clock  at  night  with  Hardeman's,  Shannon's  and  Herbert's, 
regiments  of  my  brigade,  and  Lane's,  Stone's  and  Phillips',  regi- 
ments of  Colonel  Major's  brigade  and  Semmes'  battery. 

"  After  marching  the  entire  night  I  encamped  within  nine  miles 
of  the  fort  about  nine  o'clock  the  next  morning. 

"During  the  twenty-seventh  I  rested  our  jaded  troops  and 
horses,  gettnig  all  the  information  which  could  be  procured  relat- 
ing to  the  situation  of  the  fort,  its  force,  defences,  etc.,  etc. 

"  I  sent  Stone's  regiment  to  the  east  of  the  bayou  [La  Fourche] 
and  ordered  him  to  advance  towards  Donaldsonville  on  the  bank 
and  attract  the  attention  of  the  enemy,  and,  if  possible,  attack 
him  on  that  side.  With  the  balance  of  the  command  I  advanced 
during  the  night  of  the  twenty-seventh  to  within  a  mile  and  a  half 
of  the  fort,  where  I  dismounted  my  command. 

"  Having  determined  on  the  plan  of  attack,  I  called  the  officers 
commanding  the  regiments  together,  and  explained  to  them  specifi- 
cally the  position  each  one  was  to  occupy  in  the  assault. 

"  Mnjor  Shannon,  with  the  Fifth  Texas  Mounted  Volunteers, 
was  to  perform  a  circuit  around  the  fort,  reach  the  Mississippi 
above  and  advance  down  to  the  stockade  of  upright  timbers  set  in 
the  ground  between  the  levee  and  the  water's  edge  and  then  make 
an  entrance. 

"Colonel  Hardeman,  with  the  Fourth  Texas  Mounted  \'olun- 
teers,  was  to  move  up  the  Bayou  road  and  as  soon  as  he  heard  the 
firing  of  Shannon,  or  of  the  enemy,  he  was  to  assault  the  fort  at 
the  water's  edge,  along  the  stockade  and  simultaneously  with 
Shannon  to  make  an  entrance  through  the  stockade  and  with 
Shannon  assault  the  garrison,  hand  to  hand. 

"Phillips,  Lane  and  Herbert,  with  their  regiments,  were  to 
envelop  the  works,  moving  up  around  them  to  the  brink  of  the 
ditch,  shooting  down  the  cannoneers  and  their  supporters  from  the 
ramparts  at  a  distance  of  onh'  sixteen  or  eighteen  feet. 


NEW    IIAMPSHIKE    VOLT  NTEEKS.  207 

"Major  Shannon  encountered  the  pickets  of  the  enemy  and  a 
fire  was  opened  upon  him  by  the  artillery  of  the  fort. 

"He  advanced  to  the  stockade  driving  the  enemy  from  it  and 
firing  upon  them  through  their  own  port-holes.  He  pushed  a  part 
of  his  men  over  their  works,  the  men  helping  each  other  over  ;  the 
balance  of  his  men  moved  around  the  stockade  through  the  shal- 
low water,  into  the  fort. 

"Hearing  the  small  arms  of  Major  vShannon  amid  the  roar  of 
artillery,  I  ordered  an  advance  of  the  whole  line.  The  fight  was 
desperately  contended  on  every  part  of  the  ground. 

"Colonel  Hardeman,  with  the  Fourth  Texas,  l)eing  unable  to 
control  his  guide,  was  delayed  in  his  attack  on  the  La  Fourche 
side  until  nearly  daylight,  but  his  casualities  show  with  what 
determined  courage  that  veteran  regiment  stood  its  ground  after  it 
came  into  action. 

"  The  attack  on  the  fort  was  made  before  light,  at  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  gunboats  from 
being  in  advance.  We  were  not  repulsed  until  we  found  after  get- 
ing  into  the  stockade  that  there  was  yet  a  ditch  to  cross,  running 
in  front  of  and  parallel  with  the  river.  At  this  ditch  a  most  des- 
perate fight  ensued  between  the  commands  of  vShannon  and 
Phillips  and  the  enemy. 

"Our  men  here  used  brick-l)ats  upon  the  heads  of  the  enemy, 
who  returned  the  same.  Captain  Killough  and  Lieutenant  Land 
and  other  officers  and  men  were  wounded  on  their  heads  with 
bricks  thrown  by  the  enemy,  which  had  first  been  thrown  l)y  our 
men.  There  never  was  more  desperate  courage  displayed  than 
was  shown  by  our  men  engaged  in  this  assault.  The  enemy  have 
been  shown  an  example  of  desperate  courage  which  will  not  be 
without  its  effect.  [We  wonder  if  the  same  cannot  be  said  of  the 
brave  defenders  inside  the  fort  ?] 

"  We  fought  from  two  o'clock  a.  m.,  until  daylight  without  in- 
termission, and  our  dead  and  wounded  show  the  desperation  of 
the  assault.  The  garrison  contained  between  five  and  six  hundred 
Federals.     [Oh,  no  ;  only  one  hund'-ed  and  eighty] 

"At  daylight  I  sent  a  flag  of  truce,  asking  permission  to  pick 
up  our  wounded  and  bury  our  dead,  which  was  refused,  as  I 
expected,  my  object  in  sending  a  flag  so  early  was  to  get  away  a 


268  IIISTOIJY    OF    THE    SIXTEP:XTir    ]:E(tIMENT 

great  number  of  our  men  who  had  found  a  little  shelter  near  the 
enemy's  works  and  who  would  undoubtedly  be  taken  prisoners. 
As  it  was  I  must  have  saved  a  hundred  men  by  instructing  my 
flag  of  truce  officer  as  he  approached  the  fort  to  order  our  troops 
still  there,  away. 

"We  mourn  the  fall  of  many  of  our  bravest  and  best  officers 
and  men,  among  them  Major  Shannon,  Captain  Ragsdale,  Lieu- 
tenants Darl)y  and  Cole  of  the  Fifth,  Major  Ridley  of  Phillips' 
regiment  and  Lieutenant  Cartwright  of  the  Fourth,  and  others. 

"  Had  the  fort  fallen  into  our  hands,  I  am  satisfied,  with  a  little 
work  on  it,  we  could  have  held  it  against  all  the  gunboats  below 
Port  Hudson. 

"  Its  capture  and  occupation  would  doubtless  have  caused  great 
uneasiness  and  inconvenience  to  the  Federal  army  besieging  Port 
Hudson.  In  this  view  much  risk  was  justified  in  its  attempted 
capture." 

This  report  of  Green  was  sent  to  Major-General  Taylor, 
who  forwarded  it  to  Richmond  with  tliese  comments  : — 

"Personal  observation  satisfies  me  that  no  engage- 
ment dnring  this  war  has  illnstrated  more  signally  the 
desperate  valor  of  Confederate  troops  tlian  the  attiick  on 
this  position. 

"Although  the  attack  nmy  have  been  in  some  respects 
an  nnwise  one,  I  am  not  disposed  to  attach  the  slightest 
censure  to  so  gallant  a  soldier  as  General  Green,  whose 
disposition  is  to  attack  tlie  enemy  wherever  lie  finds 
liim." 

These  reports,  taken  from  the  official  records  of  the 
Confederacy,  wliile  recording  tlie  courage  of  their  trooi)S 
equally,  though  indirectly,  extol  the  courage  of  the 
brave  and  resolute  defenders  of  Donaldsonville.  For 
the  desperate  fighting  of  which  the  Confederates  boast 
must  have  been  met  l)y  equally  desperate  fighting  by  the 


Ni;\v   irAMi'siiiiM':  vounteeks.  271 

JVw  Fedt^rnl  tr(»()i)S  wlio  confronted  them.  The  story  of 
tliiit  (leTeiice.  iinh\ss  fully  confirmed  ll)y  official  reports 
f'l'om  both  Federal  and  Confederate  sources,  could  hardly 
be  believed. 

Here  were  one  hundred  and  eighty  men,  the  majority 
of  whom  had  befoi'e  this  scai'cely  l)een  under  fire,  the 
majority  of  whom  were  juwt  (jut  of  the  hospitals  (^f  New 
Oideans,  confi'onted  by  six  regiments  and  one  battery 
connuanded  V)y  as  brave  officers  as  ever  led  Confederate 
troops.  Our  men  were  so  scantily  officered  that  one  of 
the  Sixteenth  privates  on  the  morning  after  the  fii-st 
night's  figliting  was  appointed  acting  sergeant  and  put 
in  command  of  the  squad  tliat  defended  the  stockade 
lunning  from  the  fort  to  the  river. 

Tlie  fighting  a  part  of  the  time  was  hand  to  hand  ;  the 
men  Tised  l)i'ickbats  when  lying  on  oi)}»()site  sides  of  the 
embankment  that  separated  them  from  the  enemy.  The 
enemy  ti-ied  foui  means  as  well  as  fair.  Neai'  morning 
of  the  hrst  niglit's  fight  a  squad  of  the  enemy  said,  *'  We 
wish  to  surrender.'''  Several  of  our  men  mounted  the 
paiapet   to  receive  them  and  were   instantfy  fired  upon. 

They  did  ]U)t  forget  this  piece  of  cowardice  and  treach- 
ery, for  when  a  flag  of  truce  a  little  later  appeared,  the 
bearer  of  it  was  shot,  as  were  two  others  who  appeared 
on  a  similar  mission.  This  was  not  light  according  to 
the  rules  of  war,  but  our  men  had  been  fooled  ;  they  re- 
solved not  to  be  fooled  again,  rules  of  war  or  no  rules 
of  war. 

There  was  still  sounding  in  tlieii-  ears,  too,  the  words  of 
General  Green,  ''No  prisoners  will  be  taken."      It  was  a 


272  IIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

fight  for  life,  and  those  of  the  Sixteentli  wlio  were  en- 
gaged in  that  defence  certainly  showed  just  as  good  fight- 
ing material  as  was  ever  shown  by  the  "  Gallant  Second  " 
of  New  Hami)sliiie,  (»r  l)y  the  "Fighting  Fifth"  of  New 
Hanipshire.  or  by  the  '' Unsurpassed  Eighth"  of  New 
Hanqishire,  or  by  any  other  regiment  that  ever  fouglit  in 
an  open  fiekl  or  in  defence  of  a  l)e]eagiired  garrison, 


(S\#:§\§) 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

DARK  HOURS  PRECEDING  THE  FALL  OF  PORT  HUDSON. 


IN  order  to  ronijtlHte  tlie  story  of  tlie  fall  of  Donald- 
son vi  IK'  it  was  necessary  to  anticipate  tlie  fact  tliat 
Port  llndson  ca|)itiilated  just  before  the  siege  of 
Donaldsonville  was  raised. 

We  must  now  retnrn  for  a  few  moments  and  in  doing 
so  will  take  a  l)r<)ad  outlook  of  military  affairs  as  tliey 
appeared  the  last  of  June  and  hrst  of  July,  1S()H. 

At  no  other  time,  perhaps,  after  tlie  beginning  of  tlie 
war  had  there  l)een  so  great  uneasiness  tlirongliout  the 
counti'y.  ]\f altitudes  of  oui-  people  Avei'e  discouraged. 
Moui'uing  foi*  the  dead  was  in  the  city  mansion  and 
nuumtain  handet.  Great  peace  meetings  undei-  the 
ausi)ices  of  Fernando  Wood  and  others  were  held  in 
Cooper  Institute,  New  York.  In  a  few  months  the  time 
for  which  thonsands  of  oui'  troops  had  enlisted  would 
expire  and  a[)})ai-ently  there  were  none  to  take  their 
place. 

In  Indiana  mo])s  were  resisting  the  drafts,  aiul  Mr. 
Lincoln  confessed  that  it  was  doubtful  if  they  could  be 
eufoi'ced  in  New  Yoi'k  or  Boston.  The  restoration  of 
jMcClellan  was  vehemently  urged.      Foreign  powers  were 


274  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

on  the  point  of  interfering  and  that  meant  the  recognition 
and  lil^ely  enough  the  success  of  the  Confederacy.  Pope 
Pius  IX  sent  liis  congratulations  to  Jeflferson  Davis, 
December  third,  lS(t;>  ;  a  })li()t()giai)li  copy  of  that 
original  communication  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  his- 
torian of  the  Sixteenth. 

Desertions  that  had  been  increasing  to  an  alarming 
extent  were  multiplied,  though  in  the  interest  of  truth 
and  in  justi('e  to  all  it  should  be  said  that  ninety-hve 
per  cent,  of  the  desertions  were  from  among  foreign- 
born  volunteers. 

The  month  of  May  had  l)rought  the  defeat  at  Chancel- 
lorsville.  Then  followed  the  retreat  <d'  a  dispirited  army 
across  the  Rappahannock.  The  ninteenth  of  June 
found  the  enemy  with  a  powerful  army  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  entire  army  of  the  Potomac  and  the 
Capital  at  Washington  were  imi)erilled. 

In  the  Avest  and  southwest  the  outlook  was  scai'cely  less 
gloomy  and  disheartening.  The  naval  attack  on  Charles- 
ton was  a  failure.  Fort  McAlistei-,  held  by  the  Confed- 
erates, had  resisted  all  attempts  to('aptur(Mt.  Burnside 
had  ])een  outgeneraled  and  checked  in  his  Tennessee 
campaign.  Rosecrans  was  making  no  progress  against 
the  Confederates  under  (leneral  Pragg.  The  enemy, 
crossing  the  Ohio  I'iver.  tiiunqdiantly  invade<l  the  State 
of  Indiana,  and  there  were  no  available  troops  to  inter- 
cept them.  (Irant  had  surrounded  A'i(dvsburg,  ])eginning 
the  siege  in  May,  but  on  the  first  of  July,  thirty-one 
thousand  resolute  men  opi)()sed  him,  avowing  tlieir  i)ur- 
pose  to  starve  on  mule  meat  sooner  than  surreiufer. 


NEW  HAMPsiriin':  am)lt'nteers.  27*6 

Galveston,  Texas,  liad  l)e'en  recaptured  by  Magnidei", 
wliicdi  iiave  the  ( ^)iired('i'at('s  valiial)le  stores  and  an 
o[)en  seaport.  The  condition  ol'  the  Department  of  tlie 
Gulf  durini;'  tlie  niontli  of  June  and  tlic  iirst  of  July  at 
otlicr  points  ^vas  (Mjually  unpi'oniisinii,'.  Twice  had  our 
troo]»s  been  repulsed  l)efoi-e  Poj-t  Hudson  with  an  a,u'gi'e- 
i2,'ate  loss  of  nearly  four  thousand  nieu.  Oui-  ranks,  too, 
were  rax)idly  depleting;'  by  sickness  and  death. 

In  our  own  regiuient,  as  we  liave  seen,  not  a  day  passed 
without  its  death  records.  General  Gardner  in  Port 
Hudson  seemed  in  no  haste  to  surrender  thouuh  twice 
invited  to  do  so.  It  is  true  that  his  communications  with 
the  outside  world  were  cut  off  and  his  sui)i)lies  were 
mncli  reduced,  but  he  was  so  strong  in  numbers  that  we 
did  not  know  how  soon  he  might  assume  the  aggressive, 
and  he  was  so  very  strongly  entrenched,  his  fortifications 
were  so  fanltlessly  constructed  and  the  ground  inside 
was  so  admirably  adapted  for  the  movement  and  massing 
of  troox)s,  that  he  had  nothing  or  but  little  to  fear  from 
assaults  outside.  It  is  pretty  evident  that  on  the  first  of 
July  Gardner  had  about  as  many  effective  men  within 
the  fortifications  as  Banks  could  command  outside. 

Extending  the  view  we  find  that  after  Green's  first  re- 
pulse at  Doiuildsonville  he  erected  masked  batteries  at 
different  points  on  therivei',  menaced  our  navigation  and 
threatened  to  cut  our  l)as('  of  sui)plies. 

General  "  Dick''  Taylor,  General  Mouton  and  Colonel 
Majoi' moved  against  Brashear  City,  which  was  but  feebly 
gariisoned,  and  with  scarcely  any  resistance  captured  it 
June  twenty-second,  together  with   all  the  personal   and 


276  iris'l'oKV    i)V    TItE    SIXTEEXTII    KEGIMEXT 

general  l)aggageof  onr  troops  tliat  had  been  stored  tliere. 

In  (ieneral  Taylor's  rej)ort  to  General  Boggs  lie  says, 
"  The  quantity  of  quartermaster,  conimissary  and  ordi- 
nance stores  captured  exceeds  belief."  In  anothei-  report 
he  says,  "  We  have  captured  supi)lies  enough  to  last 
during  the  rest  of  the  war."  He  also  adds: — "In 
money  value  my  capture  at  Brashear  City  is  worth  to  the 
Confederacy  two  millions  of  dollars." 

By  what  oversight  this  vast  amount  of  jDroperty  had 
been  left  thus  exposed  has  never  yet  been  reported.  For- 
tunately the  Sixteenth  on  its  return  from  Butte  a  la  Rose 
took  along  its  1)aggage,  some  of  which  was  at  Brashear 
City,  though  most  of  it  had  been  stored  at  Algiers. 

After  the  capture  of  Brashear  City  a  detachment  of 
Taylor's  troops  moved  along  the  Western  Railroad  to- 
ward New  Orleans  and  reached  a  point  within  twenty- 
live  miles  of  that  city.  July  fourth  General  Emory 
wrote  to  General  Banks,  as  we  have  stated,  that  he  must 
send  him  troops  or  the  enemy.  Green  from  the  north  and 
Taylor,  Mouton  and  Major  from  the  west,  would  capture 
the  city  in  spite  of  any  defence  he  could  make.  Such 
w^as  the  condition  of  affairs  in  the  southwest. 

Thus  after  fighting  with  varied  success  for  thirty 
months,  our  national  affairs  seemed  darker  and  more 
discouraging  than  ever  before. 

Who  that  then  lived  having  one  spark  of  j)atriotism 
in  his  bosom  did  not  tremble  for  the  American  Republic  i 
Defeat  at  one  or  two  points  ai)parently  would  have 
changed  at  that  juncture  the  entire  results  that  followed. 

But   we  must  add  that    somehow   our  V)ovs   were   not 


NEW    IIA.MI'SIIIKK    VOLITNTEKKS.  277 

altogether  dislieartened.  Pei'liaps  it  was  because  they 
did  not  know  the  worst. 

The  calcination  as  to  tlie  time  of  our  eiilistnient  tliat 
had  l)epii  made  was  that  our  re,i;"iment  ou,ii,'lit  to  luive  hd't 
Louisiana  foi'  lionie  June  iifteentli.  l^)Ut  all  talk  as  to 
the  expiration  of  our  term  of  service  duiinn'  those  dark 
liours  was  at  an  end. 

We  were  there  on  tlie  liehl  and  tliough  dyi)\n'  daily 
were  to  remain  willing■l3^  if  not  cheerfully,  until 
Port  Hudson  Avas  taken,  or  until  we  were  defeated.  We 
had  not  the  remotest  thought  of  leaving  our  comrades  of 
other  regiments  while  the  principle  object  for  wlii(di 
we  had  gone  to  tlie  Departnu^it  of  the  (lulf  was  not  ac- 
complished. 


About  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  north  of  us  at  the 
head  of  the  forces  besieging  Vicksburg  was  one  of  the 
least  demonstrative  but  most  remarkable  military  geni- 
uses this  world  has  known.  Fighting  to  him  w^as  no 
pastime,  but  the  discharge  of  a  most  solemn  duty.  He 
fought  that  there  might  be  peace-  To  him  even  the  in- 
signia of  war  were  distasteful.  While  visiting  foreign 
lands,  though  repeatedly  urged,  he  uniformly  refused 
to  witness  military  pageants.  He  was  courageous,  per- 
sistent, shrewd,  skilled,  and  supremely  patriotic.  ''He 
had  the  patience  of  fate  and  the  force  of  Thoi-.''  A 
single  saying  that  fell  from  his  lips  is  a  key  to  his  mili- 
tary life: 

"  If  a  battle  is  inevital)le  be  the  first  to  strike  and  lu'ver 
scare.''      ''  When  in  doubt  move  to  the   front,"   was  an- 


278  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEEKTII    REGIMENT 

other  of  liis  maxims.  In  a  letter  to  his  father  he  wrote, 
"I  never  expect  to  have  an  army  wlii])pe(l.  unless  it  is 
badly  whipped  and  I  can't  help  it." 

His  mind  was  as  comprehensive  as  that  of  Na])oleon, 
hut  he  was  unlike  Napoleon  in  that  he  had  no  selhsh 
purposes  to  subserve. 

We  have  time  to  watch  the  ascendency  of  his  star  only 
for  a  moment,  and  may  do  this  l)ecause  he  it  was  who  not 
only  conquered  A^icksbui'g  but  relieved  the  Nineteenth 
Army  Corj^s  from  its  perilous  situation  and  rendered  the 
fall  of  Port  Hudson  not  only  possible  l)ut  certain. 

General  Grant  left  New  Carthaiie  in  April.  In  twenty 
days  he  mar(died  two  hundi'ed  miles,  fouiiht  live  battles, 
took  ninety  cannon  and  six  thousand  prisoners,  destroyed 
Pemberton's  communication  and  then  drove  him  to  the 
wall.  Grant's  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  missiuii,'  was 
only  four  thousand.  No  better  campaign  ever  w^as 
l)lanned  or  executed  ;  the  people  for  the  first  time  in  six 
months  were  exultant.  A  military  genius  had  come  to 
the  rescue  of  the  Republic. 

Grant  reached  Vicksburg  in  May.  To  capture  it  was 
his  purpose.  There  were  delays,  obstacles  and  interfer- 
ences which  to  many  men  would  have  been  insurmount- 
able. "When  do  you  expect  to  take  the  city?""  taunt- 
ingly asked  a  female  secessionist.  "  I  can't  tell  exactly," 
said  Grant,  "but  I  shall  stay  till  I  do,  if  it  takes  thirty 
years."  His  invincible  purpose  was  irresistible,  and 
July  fourth,  two  months  after  the  siege  began,  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  waved  over  this  "  Gibraltar  of  the  Confed- 
eracy." 


NEW    IIAMPSiriKE    VOLTTNTEEKS.  270 

Til  its  ea])itnl:ition  tlieiv  were  surrendered  to  (Iraiit  fif- 
teen generals,  thirty-one  tlionsand  six  hundred  soldiers, 
and  one  hundred  and  seventy-two  cannon — ''  tlie  gi'eatest 
capture  of  men  and  ainiainent  ever  made  at  one  time  since 
the  invention  of  gunpowder,  if  not  since  the  creation  of 
man." 

At  the  headquarters  of  General  Banks  on  the  morning 
of  July  seventh  despatches  from  General  Grant  an- 
nounced the  surrender  of  Vicksburg.  Soon  the  glad  news 
was  communicated  to  every  regiment  and  detachment  in 
our  army.  A  continuous,  '•  surging  volume  of  cheers  and 
exultations  filled  the  air  all  along  the  lines  around  Port 
Hudson,  from  the  one  wing  to  the  other,  from  the  river 
below  to  the  river  above.  And  the  p)ffians  of  loyal  joy 
and  gladness  rolled  even  over  the  Confedrate  entrench- 
ments and  warned  those  brave  defenders  that  their  watch- 
ful and  tireless  foes  certainly  had  received  glorious 
news.''  A  Massachusetts  colonel  thrust  a  stick  through 
his  official  bulletin  and  by  way  of  explanation  sent  it 
over  the  lines  to  the  wondering  Confederates. 

Upon  receipt  of  Genei-al  Grant's  despatch,  General 
Banks  issued  a  general  order  directing  a  salute  of  one 
hundred  shotted  guns  to  be  tired  fiom  each  battery,  or- 
dering also  all  regimental  l)ands  to  assend)le  at  his  head- 
quarters. At  noon  the  stiri-ing  strains  of  our  national 
melodies,  from  about  two  hundred  musicians,  accompa- 
nied with  the  sub-bass  of  the  thundering  of  hundreds  of 
cannon,  lilled  the  ail'. 

Notwithstanding  the  solid  shot  and  shell  that  were 
falling  among   them,   the    Confederates  hailed   our  men 


280  IIISTOKV    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

asking  tlie  cause  of  "  the  jubilation."  They  were  told 
that  Grant  had  captured  Vicksburg.  '"That's  another 
damn  Yankee  lie,"  was  the  answer. 

Tlie  reports,  however,  were  carried  to  Cleneral  (lardner, 
wlio  the  next  day,  July  eighth,  sent  a  tiag  of  truce  to 
ascertain  if  the  reports  he  had  heard  were  true,  (leneral 
Banks  then  forwarded  to  Gardner  a  copy  of  the  despatch 
he  had  received  from  General  Grant. 

On  receipt  of  this  Gardner  sent  anothei'  llag  of  truce 
asking  upon  what  terms  General  Banks  would  receive  his 
surrender.  During  the  continuance  of  the  truce  the  men 
on  either  side  came  out  of  their  rifle-pits  or  "gopher- 
holes,"  as  they  were  called,  laughed  and  joked  as  ami- 
cably as  if  they  had  been  "engaged  in  some  friendly 
pastime,  instead  of  in  the  fearful  game  of  deadly  war- 
fare." The  terms  of  surrender  were  agreed  upon  and  all 
hostilities  ceased. 

The  corresjDoudence  between  Generals  Banks  and 
Gardner  may  be  of  interest  to  the  reader : 

Headquarters  Port  Hudson,  La., 

/;//)'  7,  1S63. 
General: — Having  received  information  from  your  troops  that 
Mcksbjirg  has  been  surrendered,  I  make  this  communication  to  ask 
you  to  give  me  your  official  notice  whether  this  is  true  or  not ; 
and  if  true,  I  ask  for  a  eessafion  of  hos/ih'f/es  with  a  view  to  the 
consideration  of  terms  for  surrendering  this  position. 

I  am,  General,  very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

Frank  Gardner, 
Major-Gcneral  ConiniandhiQ-  Confederate  State  Forees. 

To  Major-General  Banks, 

Connnand/no-  Ignited  States  Forees  jYear  ]\vt  Hudson. 


NEW  nA:MPsini;K  voLrNTEEUs.  281 

Hkadouarters  Department  of  the  Guef, 

Before  Port  Hudson,  ////]'  S,  iS6j. 
General  : — In  reply  to  your  communication  dated  the  seventh 
instant,  by  flag  of  truce  received  a  few  moments  since,  I  have  the 
honor  to  inform  you  that  I  received  yesterday  morning,  July 
seventh,  at  forty-five  minutes  past  ten  o'clock,  by  the  gunboat 
General  Priee,  an  official  despatch  from  Major-General  Ulysses  S. 
Grant,  United  States  Army,  whereof  the  following  is  a  true 
extract : 

Headquarters  Department  of  the  Tennessee, 

Near  Vicksburg,  July  /,   /c?^?. 
Major-General  N.    P.  Banks. 

Coiuntaiidhig  Departiiieiit  of  the  ('iiilf. 
General  : — The  garrison  of  Vicksburg  surrendered  this  morn- 
ing. The  number  of  prisoners  as  given  by  the  officers  is  twenty- 
seven  thousand  ;  field  artillery,  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
pieces  ;  and  a  large  number  of  siege  guns,  probably  not  less  than 
eighty. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

U.  S.  Grant, 

Major-  General. 

I  regret  to  say  that  under  present  circumstances  I  cannot  con- 
sistently with  my  duty  consent  to  a  cessation  of  hostilities  for  the 
purpose  you  indicate. 

Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

N.   P.  Banks, 
Major- General  Coniuianding. 

To  Major-General  P'rank  Gardner, 

Coi)iina)idi)ig  Confederale  Slates  Fojres,  Port  Ilndso)!. 


Port  Hudson, 

Jnly  S.    /S6j. 
General: — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  communication  of  this  date,   giving  a  copy  of   an   official 
communication   from   Major-General  U.  vS.   Grant,   United  States 
Army,  anno/niriii^  tin-  surrender  of  the ganison  of   I'ieks/utro. 


'•2S2  niSTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Having  dcjcnded  tJiis  position  as  long  as  I  deem  )nv  duty  requires 
I  am  7i'i//ing  to  surrender  to  5'Oii,  and  will  appoint  a  ccnimission  of 
three  officers  to  meet  a  similar  commission  appointed  by  yourself, 
at  ni)i€  o'e/ock  this  morning,  for  the  purpose  of  agreeing  upon  and 
drawing  up  the  terms  of  surrender ;  and  for  that  purpose  I  ask  for 
a  cessation  of  hostilities. 

Will  you  please  designate  a  point,  outside  of  my  breastworks, 
where  the  meeting  shall  be  held  for  this  purpose  ? 

I  am,  ver}^  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Frank  Gardner, 

Comjiianding  Confederate  States  Foi'ces. 

To  Major-General  Banks, 

Commandi)ig  United  States  Forces. 


Headquarters  United  States  Forces, 

Before  Port  Hudson,  July  8,  iS6j. 
General  : — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  communication  of  this  date  stating  that  you  are  willing  to 
surrender  the  garrison  under  your  command  to  the  forces  under 
my  command,  and  that  you  will  appoint  a  commission  of  three 
officers  to  meet  a  similar  commission  appointed  by  me,  at  nine 
o'clock  this  morning,  for  the  purpose  of  agreeing  upon  and  draw- 
ing up  the  terras  of  surrender. 

In  reply  I  have  the  honor  to  state  that  I  have  designated 
Brigadier-General  Charles  P.  Stone,  Colonel  Henry  W-  Birge  and 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Richard  B.  Irwin  as  the  officers  to  meet  the 
commission  appointed  by  yovi. 

They  will  meet  your  officers  at  the  hour  designated  at  a  point 
where  the  flag  of  truce  was  received  this  morning.  I  will  direct 
that  active  hostilities  shall  instantly  cease  on  my  part  until  further 
notice  for  the  purpose  stated. 

Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

N.  P.  Banks, 
A/ajor-denerat  Commanding. 
To  Major-General  Frank  Gardner, 

Commandi)ig  Confederate  States  Forces,  Port  Hudson. 


1,1      ^l^m\     \ 


4' 


NEW    HAMPSITIKE    VOLUNTEERS.  285 

At  the  early  dawn  of  July  ninth  the  whole  Nineteenth 
Army  Corps  was  astir.  There  were  some  expressions  of 
joy,  tliono'h  it  cannot  be  said  that  onr  men  were  hilarious 
or  even  jiil)i]aiit.  Our  siiffei'inn's  and  losses  liad  been  too 
ti:reat  for  that  kind  of  demonstration. 

The  bands  were  not  silent,  however,  and  the  ''Star 
Spangled  Banner,"  "Yankee  Doodle"  and  "Dixie" 
came  boj'ne  ui)on  the  moi'ning  air — never  to  onr  eais 
sounding  sweeter. 

At  seven  o'clock  General  Andrews,  chief  of  staff  of 
General  Baidvs,  made  his  entrance  into  the  Confederate 
fortitications.  Colonel  Birge  with  his  brave  storming 
column,  whose  services  ha])pily  had  been  disi)ensed  with, 
was  allowed  the  "post  of  honor"  and  led  all  the  other 
troops.  Next  came  the  heroic  Eighth  New  Hampshire, 
assigned  to  that  position  in  recognition  of  its  gallant  sej'- 
vices  during  the  entire  campaign  and  especially  dui'ing 
the  siege.  This  regiment  was  further  complimented, 
after  the  snrrender.  by  being  assigned  to  a  camping 
ground  on  a  high  bluff'  midway  the  river  front  and  di- 
rectly under  the  "  Stars  and  Stripes"  that  it  had  suf- 
fered so  mu(di  to  defend. 

Having  obtained  leave  of  al)sence  from  the  Sixteenth 
that  morning,  its  historian  entered  Port  Hudson  among 
the  hrst  of  oui'  tro()})S  that  led  the  way.  Everything 
l)()re  evidence  of  the  havoc  (jur  artillery  had  wrought  in 
that  "stronghold"  of  the  enemy. 

Scarcely  a  building  of  any  kind,  whether  dwelling- 
house,  store-house  or  woi'kshop,  could  be  seen  that  had 
not  been  leveh'd  or  riddled   bv  the  shot  and  shell  of  our 


^SC)  TTTSTOr.Y    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

artillerists,  whom  the  Confederates  themselves  acknowl 
edged  to  be  "unequalled  in  theii' deadly  aim  "  and  tlieir 
''  skill  in  handling  tlieir  guns." 

On  every  hand  there  were  to  l)e  seen  or  smelt  carcasses 
of  horses  and  mules  which  had  been  killed  by  sliarj)- 
shooters  and  shells.  The  graves,  too,  of  the  dead  Con- 
federates were  many.  Some  of  their  numl)er  had  l)een 
buried  in  single  graves  tliongh  the  new-turned  earth 
showed  plainly  enough  that  "heaps  of  their  slain  were 
crowded  into  platooned  graves"  that  were  left  unmarked. 

Soon  we  reached  the  part  of  the  encdosui'e  where  the 
Confederates  were  drawn  uj)  in  line,  tlieir  officers  in  front 
of  them,  their  backs  to  the  river.  General  Gardner 
then  advanced  toward  General  Andrews,  and,  in  a  few 
words,  offered  to  surrender  his  sword  with  Port  Hudson. 
But  General  Andrews  told  him,  in  appreciation  of  his 
bravery  that  he  was  at  liberty  to  retain  his  sword. 

The  Federal  troops  were  drawn  up  in  two  lines  on  the 
side  of  the  road  opposite  the  Confederates,  our  officers 
placing  themselves  in  front  of  their  men. 

At  nine-thirty,  a.  m.  after  a  brief  consultation  between 
the  Confederate,  General  Beats,  second  in  command  at 
Port  Hudson  and  General  Andrews,  chief  of  staff  under 
General  Banks,  General  Beals  turning  to  the  thousands 
of  his  command  in  (dear  tones  said,  "Attention  !  Ground 
Arms!"  and"  the  motley  line  of  the  late  belligerents  stood 
defenceless  before  us." 

By  many  of  the  Confederates  that  command  seemed 
to  l)e  obej'ed  reluctantly.  And  their  words  l)etrayed 
the  same  feeling: — "  We  shall   meet  you  again.     This  is 


o 

Q 
X 


Q 
z 

< 

< 
CO 

O 
z 

< 


IV^EW    HAMPSHIKE    VOLUNTEERS.  289 

not  the  last  of  iis,"  and  n  few  other  similar  exi)ressions 
escaped  their  ]i})S  as  we  moved  amon<;-  them. 

And  the  expression  of  their  faces  and  glances  from 
tlieir  eyes  also  disclosed  the  fact  that  hatred  of  the  North 
had  not  surrendered  its  tlirone  in  tlieir  hearts,  although 
they  now  were  i)risoners  of  war. 

AVlien  the  formalities  of  the  surrender  were  over,  the 
hag  l)earing  the  stars  and  stiipes  was  nnfolded  to  the 
breeze  from  one  of  tlie  highest  blnffs  facing  the  river, 
while  a  l)attery  manned  by  sailors  from  tJie  nuin-of  war 
Rich moiid  thnmb^red  its  salute,  announcing  to  all  within 
hearing  that  the  mighty  Mississippi  was  now  fi-ee  to  the 
commerce  of  the  nation. 

The  headquarters  and  the  ammunition  that  the  Six- 
teenth had  been  guarding  were  not  moved  into  Port 
Hudson  until  July  tenth.  The  Sixteenth  remaining  in 
charge  during  the  removal  and,  consequently,  was  among 
the  last  (^f  our  troops  to  pass  within  the  fortifications. 

We  were  assigned  to  a  blufT,  a  sort  of  promontory, 
next  the  river  on  the  m)rth  side  of  the  fort,  partly  shaded 
and  giving  an  excellent  view  of  the  river  south  and  of  its 
l)end  west. 

And  here  ended  our  active  service  and  we  were  given 
a  few  days  for  reflection  and  I'est. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

RETROSPECTIVE. 

THE  days  that  remained  l)ef()]'e  our  departure  north 
from  Port  Hudson  were  not  joyous,  th()U,<i-li  our 
active  campaigning  was  over.  We  began  to  realize 
more  keenly  than  before  the  losses  that  had  come  to  ns. 
The  faces  of  comrades  who  had  enlisted  with  ns,  who 
had  stood  side  l)y  side  with  us,  l)ut  who  no  longer  ans- 
wered the  roll-call,  haunted  us.  Others  of  our  comrades 
who  still  lingered,  with  languid  and  almost  beseeching 
eyes,  seemed  to  be  asking  of  every  passerby,  and  of  the 
clouds  in  the  sky  by  day  and  of  the  stars  by  night, 
whether  they  could  live  long  enough  to  see  their  homes 
again  'i  Poor  men,  it  seemed  a  pity  that  that  boon  could 
not  be  granted  I 

During  those  few  days  of  Availing  other  retlections  came 
to  us  wdiicli  Ave  can  better  formulate  and  express  now 
than  we  could  then. 

In  arrangiuic  our  official  pa})ers  for  tlieir  tinal  disposi- 
tion we  found  that  Ave  had  been  attached  lirst  and  last  to 
the  following  different  divisions  and  brigades:  From 
January  third  to  the  fourteenth  Ave  Avere  in  the  third  di- 


NEW    iiAMi'sHi  i;k    VOUNTEEKS.  29] 

vision,  first  hri^nde.  From  Jjiniiary  fourteen fli  (o  July 
eleventh  we  wei'e  in  tlie  tliird  dixision.  first  l)i-iga(le. 
From  ,1  Illy  eleventli  to  July  eighteenth  we  wei'e  in  the 
third  division,  second  l)rigade.  Aftei-  July  eighteenth 
Ave  were  in  the  regular  army,  second  brigade,  and  tliei'e 
remained  until  August  twentieth,  the  date  of  our  final 
muster  out. 

Dui-ing  our  term  of  service  we  had  seen  far  less  fight- 
ing on  the  liedd  ami  had  lost  f<'wer  men  in  l)attle  than 
])erhaps  the  nui joi'ity  of  the  nine  months'  regiments.  Of 
this,  however,  we  are  not  sui*e.  But  even  if  tliis  was  so, 
it  was  no  fault  of  oui-s.  It  w:is  rather  one  of  the  inci- 
dents I)elonging  to  militai-y  service.  AVe  cei'tainly  shraidv 
from  no  duty  and  nevei' turned  our  l)a(d\s  u])on  tlu^  enemy 
when  he  was  in  siglit. 

We  should  have  been  fighting  with  (lenei-al  AWit/jd 
in  the  early  I'l-ashear  campaign  if  the  muskets  issued  to 
us  had  been  suit;il)le  for  sucdi  service. 

In  the  lii'st  advance  on  Poit  Hudson  no  regimnnf  w:is 
ill  a  more  exi)osed  })osition  th:in  oui's.  We  (lid  not  fight 
then,  simi)ly  because  no  enemy  a})|)eared  to  contest  the 
field  with  us. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Teche  c;im])aiun  we  weie  among 
the  advance  troops  at  Iji-asheai'  City,  and  it  was  no  fault 
of  oui-s  that  we  did  not  move  north  with  (general  Emory 
or  that  the  enemy  did  not  tittack  us  when  we  were  left  to 
defend  l)i'asheai-  City  against  expected  raids. 

Fiom  that  place  we  were  sent  to  take  and  gai'risou 
one  of  the  most  ini[ioi'taut  p(»ints,  in  all  that  section, 
Butte  a  la  Hose.     AVe  ai<led   tlu^  iiU)d)oats   in  its    reduc- 


292  insToiiY  OF  THE  sixteenth  regiment 

tion,  and  then  took  possession  and  held  it  in  tlie  face  of 
Confederates  wlio  were  constanlly  lioverinu-  abont  us. 

This  was  tlie  only  duty  durinii-  our  service  that  we  i)led 
to  be  I'elieved  from.  But  even  this  plea  was  not  nnide 
tliat  we  ini,iilit  escn^je  from  Confederate  troo})s,  l»iit  from 
a  poisoned  atmosplieie,  foul  watei-  and  certain  death  l)y 
disease. 

We  held  tlmt  ]dace  after  all  tln^  other  troo])s  west  of 
the  Mississi])])i  had  been  withdiawn  excejjt  a  few  at 
Brashear  City. 

'I'houiih  our  lanks  lind  Ix'cn  depleted,  and  though 
there  was  scarcely  a  w<dl  man  amon^'  us,  ^\('  were  at  all 
times  in  I'eadiness,  and  while  there  we  never  asked  for 
reinforcements.  There  was  not  a  day  while  we  uarri- 
soned  Butte  a  la  Hose  that  we  were  not  ivady  to  ti<i;lit 
Taylor's  Texan  rammers  had  they  attacked  irs.  And  it 
was  no  fault  of  ours  that  they  did  not  (h)  this. 

It  was  no  fault  of  ouis  that  we  h;id  been  ordei'ed  from 
Brasheai' City  to  Port  Hudson  only  a  short  time  before 
the  (Ntufedei'ates  cai)tured  that  ])lace  with  all  its  stoi'es. 

It  was  no  fault  of  ouis  that  we  had  been  I'educed  to  a 
"  few  skeletons"  aud  were,  therefore,  at  the  last  moment 
ordei'pd  out  of  the  i-i1]p  pits  before  P(»rt  Hudson  which 
we  had  ente]-<'d  expecting' to  h^ht  while  a  nuiu  of  us  had 
streni2;th  to  load  and  si^ht  his  musket. 

Tt  was  no  fault  of  ouis  that  from  June  secoud  to  July 
tenth,  Colonel  Jjoi^au  did  not  atta(d\  our  I'e^iment  while 
we  were  ,i;"uai'(lin'j,'  the  ammunition  and  liead([uarters  of 
the  commandinu'  (ieneral.  Durinu'  that  tinu'  \\v  were  in 
line  every  morning-  at  a    few  minutes   ])ast    three  o'clock 


NEW     II  A.M  I'SIII  KK    \<»M'.\'I'KKRS. 


29S 


prepared    to  meet   a    Toe   that  liad     claimed   lie    ''  would 
do  us  all  tlie  damage  lie  could." 

Wlieiievei-  and  wherever  our  men  had  a  chance  at  the 
enemy  their  skill  and  their  coui'age  were  commended. 
On  the  gunboats  at  Fort  Bui't(»n.  our  rilies  did  all  that 
ritles  could  do,  was  the  acdviiowh^dgement  of  the  naval 
officers  who  commanded  that  ex])edition. 

At  Donaldsonville  fi'om  .June  twenty-eighth  to  .Iiily 
ninth,  our  men  fought  like  veterans  and  contributed  in 
no  small  measure  to  one  of  the  most  desperate  and 
biilliant  defences  of  the  war. 

And  in  th<^  tight  at  Springfield  Landing  our  men  were 
the  only  ones  especially  commended  in  therei)orts  made 
by  staff  officers  to  (General  IJanks. 

Throughout  the  cani])aign  if  the  losses  we  had  suffered 
by  disease  had  been  incurred  on  the  field,  our  I'ecord 
certainly  would  have  seemed  more  heroic.  I'lit  are  gun- 
shot wounds  woi-se  than  those  diseases  that  brought  to 
hundreds  of  our  men  certain  amf  often  sudden  deaths 
Su(di  tile  retrospect  as  to  our  regiment. 

But  in  our  review  we  must  not  be  too  circumsciib:  <1. 
Let  us,  therefore,  take  into  account  for  a  moment  the 
entii'e  field  on  which  the  Nineteenth  Army  Corps  had 
figured.  \\'("  ali'eady  have  j)assed  a  few  ci'iticisius.  Ibit 
it  would  be  unjust  if  we  failed  to  state  that  the  pooi'caui- 
paigning  of  oui'  army  had  been  at  no  tiim^  offset  by  that 
\vhi(di  was  commendable.  The  feint,  for  instance,  on 
Port  Hudson  in  Marcdi  and  then  the  sudden  ti^aiisfei-ence 
of  theai'iny  to  ])rashear  (^ity  was  a  I'emarkably  sikmm'ssI'uI 
piece  (d'  military  maneinring. 


204  ITISTOIIV    <»F    TIH':    ^^IXTEEXTir    r.i:(4IMENT 

Tile  tiiuiuplKiiit  inovenient  of  our  troops  u])  the  Teclie 
coiiutiy  to  Alexandria,  also  tlie  march  across  the  coiintiy 
from  that  i)oint  to  the  Mississi])pi  river,  together  with 
the  complete  investment  of  Port  Hudson  and,  in  the 
iiicaiiliiiie.  the  holdiuii'  of  New  Orleans  as  a  l)ase  (>f  su])- 
i:>lies,  taken  altogethei-  show  l)oth  com[)i'ehensiv(:'  plan 
niiig  and  very  hrilliant  execution.  So  miicli  ti'uthfully 
can  l)e  said  l)y  way  of  commendation. 

And  it  would  please  the  historian  if  this  i)]-aise  could 
be  coiitiiiupd  to  the  end  of  thechaptei'.  l^ut  if  this  were 
done  it  woidd  make  for  a  blow  against  the  design  and 
usefulness  of  history.  History  is  of  no  value  as  liistoi'y 
unless  it  is  a  truthful  stoi'y  containing  what  is  unfavor- 
able as  well  as  that  to  which  is  accorded  our  praises. 
Hence  we  must  call  attention  to  the  uncommendable 
])arts  of  the  recoi-d.  And  we  ought  to  say  that  there  is 
almost  always  an  uncommendable  side  in  all  great  army 
movements. 

It  is  clear,  u^ion  a  moment's  reflection,  that  the  first 
advance  of  our  aim y  on  Port  Hudson  acconijili shed  noth- 
ing. The  plan  had  been  to  icach  a  point  on  the  night  of 
the  fourteenth  of  March  where  oui-  artillery  coukl  be 
used  to  annoy  the  enemy  ami  divert  his  attention.  ])Ut 
we  had  not  a  single  piece  of  ai'tilleiy  in  i)osition  that 
night  except  by  way  of  defence,  nor  were  we  near  enough 
to  throw  a  s(»litary  shell  into  the  enemy's  foi'tihcations. 
Faii'agut  could  hav<'  iJiissed  Port  Hudson  just  as  well  as 
he  did  if  ourtioops  jiad  been  one  liundred  miles  away  or 
had  been  (piietly  resting  at  ]?aton  Pouge. 

H  was  also  a  great  mistake  to  move  up  into  the  Te(die 


NEW     IIA.M  I'SHIKE    VOLrXTKKKS.  295 

coiinl'i'y  and  especially  on  to  Alexandria  A\itlioiit  posi- 
tive assurances  of  co-operation  with  (Icneral  (li'ant. 
Without  such  co-op(M'alio]i  norhinu'  of  inipoi'tance  could 
be  g'ained  and  assui-inces  of  sucli  co-opci-atioii  never  had 
l)een  given  l)y  (Trant.  And  all  (diance  for  co-opera tion 
was  forfeited  by  Kanks'  delay  at  ()p(dousas. 

That  cain])aign  cost  us  dearly  with  nothing  to  show 
for  it,  exce})t.  as  we  have  said  l)eforc,  cott(»ii,  sugai'  and 
molasses. 

After  having  taken  ])ossession  of  that  countiy  it  was 
a  mistake  to  leave  it  so  i)rcci[»itatelv  as  we  did.  It  was 
essentially  a  forced  and  liasty  retreat  with  the  ordinai'y 
losses,  when  a  retreat  was  by  no  means  necessary.  We 
should  l)e  less  inclined  to  say  tliis,  were  the  statement  not 
sup]»oited  by  one  avIio  was  on  the  gronnd  and  whonmdea 
thoi'ough  study  of  that  entire  campaign.  After  estimat- 
ing the  strength  of  Banks'  arm 3^  at  the  time  and  after 
showing  how  easily  the  country  could  have  been  held 
and  how  unnecessary  was  a  retreat,  Admiial  Porter 
says,  ''This  would  not  have  been  done  had  the  leader 
[General  Banks]  been  possessed  of  the  qualifications  of 
a  militaiy  num.'" 

It  was  no  less  a  mistake  to  transfer  the  entire  arui}' 
across  the  counti'y  to  Poit  Hudson,  abamloniug  the  Six- 
teenth without  sui)port  at  Butte  a  la  Rose  aiul  without 
providing  for  the  i)rotecti()n  of  I)rashear  City  aud  >.'ew 
Orleans. 

Had  a  l)i'igade  of  oui'  aruiy  uio\(m1  (b)wu  through  t^lie 
Teche  country,  oi-  had  it  taken  traiisp(U'ts  (h»wn  the 
AtiduH'alaya    relieving   us   on   the    way,    and    pi'otecting 


!20()  IlISToI^Y    OF    TIIK    SIXTEKXTII     i;  K(;  I MKXT 

I)i'Mslienr  City  until  tlie  supplies  were  shipped  to  New 
Orleans,  there  would  have  becui  saved  to  tlie  United 
States  in  money  value,  many  times  nioie  than  was 
received  for  all  the  cotton,  sugar  and  molasses  that 
had  l)een  conliscated. 

Aside  from  the  great  loss  of  militai-y  stores,  all  the 
personal  baggage  of  ({rover's,  Emory's  and  AVeitzel's 
divisions  that  had  been  stored  there  was  captui-ed, 
which  to  oui'  troops  was  almost  a  calamity. 

All  the  laili'oad  cars  whi(di  easily  could  have  been  sent 
to  New  Oi-Icans,  were  i-nn  by  the  (confederates  into  l)er- 
wi(dv  ])ay  and  the  heavy  cannon  were  sunk  beneath  its 
muddy  watei's.  This  whole  business  by  somel)ody's 
blundering  was  a  disgrace  to  those  who  weie  in  com- 
nmnd,  that  scarcely  admits  of  excuse. 

The  two  assaults  on  Port  Hudson  in  May  and  June, 
as  we  have  seen,  were  likewise  grave  mistakes.  Thirty- 
eight  hundi'ed  men  in  those  engagements  were  lost  to  us 
with  nothing  gained. 

May  nineteenth  the  Confederate,  General  Johnson,  as 
the  reader  recalls,  sent  to  Gardner  to  evacuate  Port 
Hudson.  Had  our  forces  simply  withdrawn  on  that  date, 
for  forty-eight  hours,  we  could  have  gained,  excei»t  the 
rifles  of  the  enemy,  everytliing  we  did  gain  at  the  time 
of  its  sui-rendpr,  and  have  saved  all  the  losses  incurred. 

But  it  is  replied  that  if  the  voluntaiy  evacuation  had 
taken  place  the  Confederates  would  have  been  at  libeity 
to  move  elsewhere  to  tight  the  Federal  forces.  l)Ut  we 
also  could  have  moved  elsewhere  and  have  been  in  bettei' 
i-cl;ili\t'  position  to   light,  had   su(di  a   move    l)een  made. 


NKW      II  AM  I'SII  1  I;K    \  OIJN'I'KKKS.  297 

l>iit  ;isi(l(^  fi'oiii  fills  tluMv  is  no  doiibf  t"liat  tlip  officers 
and  iiicii  caiitiircd  ])y  ({raid  at  N'ickshui'g  and  tliose 
captured  l)y  l^)aiiks  at  Port  Hudson,  never  ke[)t  tlieir 
[)ai'olcs  and  nev<M'  were  i)ro|)('rl y  cx(dian,i;"ed.  'rii<^y  were 
reoru'anized  and  within  a  few  wepks  after  tlieir  surrender, 
were  tiu'litinii'  in  utter  disregard  of  tlieii-  ])aro]e. 

Ttwas  aftei-wards  leai'ned  tliat  tlios<Muen  at  Port  Hud- 
son uave  to  the  parollinii'  ollicers  lictit ioiis  names.  Educa- 
ted men  amoiii!,'  tlieni  ])r(dended  not  to  I)e  al)l<'  to  write,  but 
made  marks  a^'ainst  names  not  t  heir  own.  Sound  low  the 
(Jonfe(hM'ate  sohliers  and  officers  t'tdt  at  lil)erty  to  enu'age 
in  ail  such  dislioiiorable  proceedings. 

1)111  better,  perliaps,  as  was  rennirk(nT  liefore,  than  giv- 
ing (Gardner  a  <diance  to  esca})e  would  lunebeen,  at  least 
from  a  military  point  of  view,  the  *' out-camping "  or 
siege  method,  thus  saving  those  l^loody  and  fruitless  as- 
saults. 

The  more  \ve  ponder  what  was  done  before  Port  Hud- 
son the  more  inexcnsible.  seems  the  management  of  that 
part  of  the  campaign  of  the  Nineteenth  Army  Corps. 
Those  who  were  responsible  for  the  mismanagement  we 
do  not  envy  and  we  wdll  not  ventnre  to  name. 

Our  regiment  took  no  ])art  in  the  subse([uent  Ped  livei" 
expedition,  and  therefoi'c  we  ought,  i)erhai)s,  to  pass  it 
in  silence.  AVe  ventuie,  howe\er,  a  single  lemark  con- 
cerning it.  'Idiat  exi)edition  was  urged  by  (Teneral  Hal- 
leek,  who  was  not  on  the  ground.  Hence  he  w  as  uuipiali- 
lied  to  judge  pro[)erly.  It  was  ()])posed  l)y  Admiral 
iN»rter  and  by  some  of  the  abh'st  oflicers  in  the  Depart- 
ment of  the  (iiilf.      The  whole  country  knows  how  disas- 


298  IIISTOIIV    OF    Tiii:   SIXTKKNTII    uegiment 

trolls  to  tlie  Federal   troops  was  that  expensive  and   iin- 
I'ortuna te  eampai,!!,]!. 

The  epitajdi  we,  therefore,  write  over  the  l)ei)artment 
of  the  Gulf  is  this:  Sufferings  untold  ;  heroism  unex- 
celled; I'apid  and  hiilliaut  movements  ;  cami)ai,u'ns  that 
larked  wisdom  ;  frequent  failure  of  concerted  action  : 
government  property  wasted  ;  ])atriotic  and  l)rave  men 
needlessly  slaughtered! 


©~\^(^\^ 


^-A^%^J^^^ 


§d^^£S#^' 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


RETURN  AND   MUSTER  OUT. 


IT  was  Aiiu'iist  fii'sf,  18()8,  when  oiir  reoinient  stood  in 
line  for  tli<'  l:isl  time  on  sontliei'n  soil.  Tli<^  line, 
liowever.  a\:is  n  (lei)lele(l  and  i)ilil'iil  one,  so  nnudi  so 
that  the  histoi-ian  hesitates  to  attenijit  a  deserii)tion  of  the 
men  avIio  ans\ver(Ml  that  call.  It  seemed  almost  as  if 
death  was  there  with  the  ntiinc  of  every  man  on  his  roll, 
and  that  withont  nineh  delay  he  was  to  call  their  names 
one  by  one,  and  tlnis  break  np  onr  ranks  withont  any 
command  from  the  officers. 

AVhat  contrasts  were  sniigested  !  At  Concord,  in  New 
York,  and  early  in  the  year  at  (^arrollton,  I^onisiana,  the 
adjntant  had  stood  with  pride  before  a  V)ody  of  as  sti'oni*; 
and  nobh^  men  as  ever  formed  in  iciiimcntal  line.  But 
August  lii'st.  aftci-  fewer  than  twelvemonths  had  passed, 
the  I'euiment  A\as  scarcely  moi-e  in  nund)er  than  one  of 
the  ori.u'inal  companies  had  been. 

As  th<'  ad  jutant  looked  ui)on  tlios<^  ha.u\i;'ar(l  and  pale 
faces  and  Ix^id  foi'ins,  and  as  he  heard  those  husky  and 
hollow  voices  answ<M'ini2'  to  the  lollcall.  he  turn<^d  a\\a\' 


;^()2      IIIST()I!Y  OF  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT 

fi'oiii  tlie  scene  with  emotions  tliat  can  tiiul  no  expression 
in  anj^  ton,i;ue  spolven  by  men. 

Tlie  liistorian  at  tliis  point,  for  a  few  moments,  will 
allow  others  to  speak.  Says  (Japtain  I^osworth  :  "We 
wei'e  waitiiiii'  ordei's  to  take  tlie  steamer  and  i-ejtort  at 
Concoi'd,  New  nam])shii-e.  One  of  the  saddest  slights 
that  T  ever  witnessed,  two  or  three  days  before  we  left, 
was  to  look  down  the  comitany's  streets  and  see'  the  many 
si(dv  men,  hardly  one  of  whom  was  lit  for  dnty.  lyini;'  on 
the  uronnd.  Many  of  them  not  able  to  move  about  l)nt 
lonu'iiiii'  to  start  for  home.  Many  of  those  men  who  left 
New  llam])shir<'  nine  months  before,  full  of  the  })ride 
and  stienii'th  of  manhood  and  youthful  ardor,  were  so  de- 
bilitated that  it  was  a])parent  they  eould  n(Mer  reach 
their  homes. 

"  When  the  order  came  on  the  last  day  of  .luly  and 
the  officers  call  was  sounded  fi'om  the  colonel's  quarters, 
one  officer  from  each  company  reported  at  once.  The 
adjutant  read  the  order  to  pack  and  go  on  board  steamer 
Sallie  Li.'^t.  The  colonel  made  a  few  remarks  saying, 
'You  all  know  our  only  surgeon  is  prostrated  with  sick- 
ness and  that  we  have  a  great  many  sick  men  unable  to 
get  down  to  the  landing.  Captain  I'osworth  will  turn 
over  the  command  of  his  company  to  liis  lieutenant 
and  take  (diai'ge  of  the  ambulances  and  sec  that  every 
sick  and  disabled  man  is  cariit'd  down  to  Ihc  blutf  and 
taken  on  board  the  steamc].' 

"It  was  neai'ly  a  mile  to  the  blulf  and  the  men  one 
aftni' another  wei'e  taken  down  in  ambulances.  Then 
they  were  cai't'Tully   taken    out  and    laid  on  the    gi'ound 


NKW     II  AM  I'SIl  i  KK    VOLrXTKEUS.  oOlJ 

wifli  flicii-  kiinpsacks  foi-  i)ill(>\vs.  Tlieii  tliey  were 
ii'ciitly  t:il\<'ii  oil  stivtoliei'S,  nbonrd  the  l)(>:it.  This  duty 
t()()l\  II  ])  oiii-  lime  initi]  everiiuir.  .\t  leii^ili  we  nil  were 
nboMi'd  the  stciiiiicr  ;iiid  at  iiiidiii^ht  she  stai-lcd  for 
Cairo." 

From  rciiKirks  iiinde  by  (Jnptnin  llowni'dat  one  of  oiii' 
hite  ciiiiip  tires  ;it  the  Weirs  we  ([note  the  followiiiu-;  — 

••]  \v:is  ordered  with  my  coiiipany  to  see  that  tlie  kiiiq)- 
sncks  tliiit  lind  l)een  taken  on  Iniggage  wngons  from  our 
encampment  at  Poi't  Hudson  to  tlie  landing,  were  jiro- 
perly  })la('e(l  and  stored  on  hoard  the  steamer,  l^dJlic  Lisf. 

"  In  my  entire  company  tliere  were  but  tliree  men  wlio 
were  al)]e  to  rendei-  any  assistance.  Witli  tiiese  excep- 
tions our  men  were  too  disheartened  and  sick  to  care 
whether  or  not  tlieir  kna])sacks  oi-  any  other  of  tlieir 
l)elongiiigs  were  ])hicedon  l)oard  the  steamei'.'" 

A  remark  of  the  jiost  (Quartermaster  was  ahso  sadly 
suggestive.  He  had  visited  the  boat  during  the  em- 
barking of  the  men,  to  asceitain  what  supplies  were 
needed.  Among  other  invoices  that  he  thought,  after 
making  this  visit,  were  necessary,  was  a  quantity  of 
plain,  piue  coffins.     These  accordingly  were  ordered. 

AVhen  the  team  that  bioiight  them  came  alongside  the 
boat  he  said  to  the  oflicer  of  the  day: — "  I  judge  by 
tlx'  looks  of  your  men  that  yoii  will  iK-ed  most  of  these 
before  ydii  reach  home."  The  sick  and  enfeebled  men 
looke(l  :it  those  collins  while  Ixdng  l)rought  on  board 
and — wondered. 

It  was  nearly  two  o'clock  (»ii  the  morning  of  August 
second,    wlxui    our   transport,    tlu^    S(f//ir    List,    a    small 


;^()4  IIlSTOiJY    Oli-    Tlir:    STXTEEXTII    KEGIMEKT 

stei'u-wiieel  freight  l)()at,  cleared  the  hindint;-,  swung 
into  the  stream  and  lieaded  noitli.  Wliat  glad  visions 
of  home  were  awalvcninl  in  the  minds  ol'  our  men  I  j\fany 
of  them  thoiiiilit  it"  they  only  could  rea(di  home  they 
would  aslv  oil  this  earth   no  greater  blessedness. 

The  past,  even  the  m^ar  past  began  to  have  the  tinge 
of  dreams.  Even  thus  early  we  hardly  conld  ])elieve 
tliat  what  we  had  been  throngh  was  a  reality. 

On  tlie  wa}'  up  the  river  the  boat  landed  at  Natchez 
leaving  some  of  our  men  who  already  were  stricken  with 
deatli. 

At  Yicksbuig,  General  (xrant  oidered  his  post  surgeon 
to  examine  our  sick,  with  a  view  of  transfei'ring  to  the 
tioating  hospital  stationed  tliere,  all  who  were  unable  to 
continue  the  journey. 

The  surgeon's  examination  was  necessarily  a  brief  one 
but  was  long  enough  to  surprise  and  startle  him.  He 
ordered  forty  of  our  sickest  men  to  be  removed  to  the 
hospital  boat.  Poor  men.  they  begged  with  tears  cours- 
ing down  their  cheeks  to  l)e  allowed  to  go  on  with  their 
comrades.  They  were  told  by  the  kind-hearted  surgeon 
that  theii'  only  hope  of  ever  reaching  home  Avas  to  receive 
medical  treatment  there,  and  rest  for  awliile. 

This  quieted  them  to  a  certain  extent,  l)ut  still,  as  if 
some  dread  pivuu)nition  hung  over  them,  they  reluct- 
antly bade  us  goodbye.  Of  those  left,  it  grieves  us  to 
say,  only  one  lived  to  reach  New  Hampshire. 

Our  sick  and  dying  wer*^  left  also  at  Helena,  AbMUphis, 
("olund)iis  and  (Jairo,  wlier(^  (li<'y  were  cared  for  and 
l)iii'ied    at    llic   liands  of   j)itying  sti'angers.      As(*a])tain 


o 
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l^YAX    HAMPSIIUIE    VOLUNTEERS.  o07 

Rice,  speaking  of  the  condition  of  the  regiment  and  of 
tlie  deatlis  tliat  occnrind  on  the  way  lionje  says  : 

'*  Our  dead  lie  l)iiried  fioni  I*orr  Ilndson  to  Caiio  ; 
nay,  in  tlie  soil  ol'  every  state  from  Ijouisiana  to  New 
Ilaiii[isliire  they  sle<^])  their  last  sleep." 

It  was  Angust  ninth,  wln^n  oni-  steand)oal  tri])  ended 
and  we  were  transferi-ed  at  (Jairo  to  cattle  and  freight 
cars.  'Idle  accommodations  in  the  stihled  and  conti'acted 
steamboat  qnarters  had  l)een  none  too  good.  Daring  a 
})art  of  the  time  iij)  the  river  the  days  had  l)een  hot  ami 
the  nights  opi)ressive.  Oiii-  men  meanwhile  wei-e  l)uid\ 
ing  on  the  Imrd  tioois,  the  rough  decdvs,  on  piles  and 
boxes  of  freight  and  among  baggage  and  cofhns. 

All  this  Inid  been    liard    enongh   to   endure  bnt  it  was' 
unspeakably  woi'se  in  those  comfortless  and  nnke'pt  cat- 
tle and  fi'eiglit  cars.      Tlu'  continual  j;ii'  ami  j(dting  we]'(^ 
distressingly  jiainful  to  our  sick  men  and  no  doubt  hast- 
ened the  death  of  not  a  few  of  them. 

Pe]'hai)s,  howev<^i-,  these  Avere  the  best  accommodations 
the  government  at  the  time  could  jirovide.  A\"e  ho])e, 
however,  that  this  was  not  a  part  of  the  miii'derous  con- 
ti'act  business  that  cost  scores  of  \:duabh^  li\-es  while  it 
enri(died  a  few  scoundrels. 

Two  days  and  nights  later  we  were  ti-ansferred  to  a 
ti'ain  of  emigrant,  and  at  length  b)  comfortable  })assenger 
cai-s. 

( )ur  journey  took  us  thiough  ( ^uit  I'alia  and  Mattoon, 
Tei-ia  Haute  and  lndianM])olis,  Tinon,  I'xdhd'oidaine, 
I)uifalo.  Albany  and  W'oicester  to  (\)n('ord.  ''At  all 
those  and  at  (jtlier  places"  as  Comi'ade  (xibnaii  says,  ''a 


308  HISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

lieartfelt,  gushing  sympathy  for  our  suffering  regiiiieiit 
was  manifested,  loyal  men  and  tender  loving  women, 
pressed  upon  us  edibles,  cordials,  and  delicacies  in  pro- 
fusion." 

On  the  morning  of  August  fourteenth  the  train  bear- 
ing our  regiment  entei-ed  slowly  tlie  station  at  Concord 
whence  we  had  left  Novend)er  twenty-lil'tii  the  year  be- 
fore. 

Our  regiment  had  enlisted  for  nine  inonths  but  some 
of  our  men  (biting  from  the  tiuK^  of  <Mirolnient  were  in 
service  fi'oni  twelve  to  thirteen  months  and  a  lai'ge  num- 
ber of  them  had  served  only  a  month  less  than  a  year. 

The  final  muster  out  did  not  take  place  until  August 
twentieth. 

But  we  are  anticipating  a  little,  For  several  hours,  in 
some  instances  for  days,  before  reaching  Ooncoid  our 
men  had  l)eeii  dusting  and  washing  themselves,  putting 
on  their  (deanest  (doths  and  rubbing  the  dii-t  and  rust 
fi'oiu  their  accoutrements  in  order  to  make,  in  presence 
of  theii'  friends,  as  respectal)le  appearance  as  possible. 

And  we  measurably  must  have  succeeded  in  this  for 
th<*  regiment,  it  was  said,  did  not  present  (piite  such  a 
[)itial)h'  and  (h^plorable  spectacle  as  was  ex})ected  from 
reports  that  had  reached  the  noi'th,  as  to  our  condition 
when  leaving  Fort  Burton  for  Port  Hudson.  And  yet 
some  of  our  comrades  were  so  changed  that  fathers  look 
ing  into  the  faces  of  their  own  sons  did  not  know  them. 

As  we  stepj)ed  fi'om  the  cars  there  was  a,  ]-epetitiou  of 
scenes  that  never  can  be  forgotten  l)y  those  wlio  wit- 
nessed them.      IIusl)aiids  and    wi\es.  niotlici's  and  sons, 


The  Wife  Whose  llusl-;;nJ  did  not  Return  with  the  Regiment, 


NEW    IIAMP8IIIKE    VoU'NTEEKS.  311 

l)r()tliei's  and  sisters,  young  men  and  those  to  whom 
they  were  betrothed  were  quickly  and  tirnily  rlas[»<Ml  in 
one  another's  arms.  There  were,  <n(^n  anionii,'  tlic  h)okers 
on,  but  few  clieeks  not  bathed  in  tears.  But  there  was 
joy  in  tliose  tears. 

Tliere  were,  however,  othni-  groupings  her<'  and  tlieie 
composed  of  tliose  who  had  come  to  greet  us.  fully  con- 
fident of  meeting  dear  ones  of  whose  death  they  had  not 
heard.  Eagerly  they  were  peering  through  I  he  car  win- 
dows to  get  a  glimj)se  of  faces  they  longed  to  see.  Fail- 
ing in  this  they  crowded  among  us  as  we  filed  out  of  the 
train  and  })i'esse(l  upon  us  theii'  questions  :  —  •'  Wdu^-e  is 
Edward,  or  John,  or  Lawrence  ^^  was  asked  by  those 
anxious  ones  of  those  ^^llolll  they  recognized  as  foiuK-r 
friends.  We  hesitated  to  answer.  "  AVhat  has  haj)- 
pened  ?  Did  he  not  come,  is  he  dead  f'  were  the  ex- 
clamations that  followed  and  that  had  to  be  answered 
thus:  — "  lie  died  just  as  we  wei-e  leaving  Poi't  Hudson,"' 
or  "he  was  left  and  buried  at  Natchez,  uv  \'icksburg,  or 
Cairo.'' 

Dear  Souls  I  (iod  alon<'  knew  the  auguisii  on  that 
morning  of  those  bereaved  and  disaj)poiiile(l   hearts. 

Sad  messages,  too,  were  soon  on  Iheii'  way  to  anxious 
and  agonized  homes  in  the  busy  city,  in  the  (|uiet  vil- 
lage, and  to  the  lowly  haudet  that  stood  in  the  hush  of 
the  valley,  oi'  in  the  (juiet  anioiig  flu'  beautiful  hills. 

Dui'iug  th<'  next  day  oi'  two  the  kind  hearted  ucighbois 
entered  the  home  of  moi-e  than  one  of  our  soldiers  whei'e 
the  wife  ()!•  uuitlu'r  was  in  waiting  I'oi-  the  couiiug  of  the 
dear  (jne.      There  was  no  mistaking  the  expi'ession  on  the 


312 


lirsTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    ItEOniEXT 


face  of  tlie  messenger,  even  before  tlie  words  \vefe  S|)oken 
fioiii  liis  trembling  lips. 

Agony  !  Is  there  not  some  woid  in  onr  tongne  that 
can  more  fittingly  tell  the  Avorkl  of  the  sacrifices  that 
were  made  l)y  those  whose  lives  wei'e  sadd<Mied  and 
shoiteiied,  and  \\ho  \\ith  l)r()lv(^n  hearts  long  since  were 
hiid  to  ivst  I 


Such  is  the  stoj-y  of  the  Sixteenth  New  liam})shire 
Kegiment.  And  w*^  repeat  once  "moie  that  \\hile  onr 
deaths  on  the  batth^  held  were  not  many,  yet  it  Itecomes 
oni'  iiioiirnfiil  dnty  to  say  that  from  the  time  we  went 
into  active  service  to  the  time  of  onr  mnstei- ont,  onr 
death  r<'coi'd  is  almost  iini)ai-alhde(l  by  that  of  any  other 
regiment  fiom  onr  or  any  othei-  state. 

Including  those  who  died  within  only  a  few  weeks 
after  tlieii-  i-etni'n,  and  who  nevei-  rallitMl  fiom  the  diseases 
coiiti'acted  at  f'oi't  Ibirton,  our  I'oll  of  death,  by  the  most 
careful  estimates  of  our  adjntant-genei'ab  reached  from 
foi-ty  to  forty-tive  per  cent,  of  the  men  originally 
eidisted. 

Oidy  a  few  of  us  ai'e  left.  The  inost  of  these,  as  the 
years  go  by,  are  feeling  more  and  more  the  elfects  of  our 
fatal  campaign. 

Aftei'  a  few  yeai's  are  added  to  our  national  history,  it 
will  b(^  left  foi'  oui'  children  and  our  childreirs  children 
to  reheai'se  the  stoi-y  of  how  tlieii'  fathers  fought  and 
siilfei-ed  and  died  to  preserve  the  union  of  states — "one 
and  insepai-abie.'' 


CHAPTER    XVII. 


PRESENT   POINT  OF  VIEW,   1897. 


IT  is  tlic  ])r()viiir('  of  flie  liisfoi'iaii  after  t<'llin,£i'  liis 
story  of  I  lie  past  to  reduce  it  to  a  pliiloso})hy  for 
,ii,-iii(laiife  in  the  future. 

In  doiuL!,'  tills  we  may  l)e  allowed  to  say  a  few  tliiuiis 
ill  this  (dosiiii;-  chapter  that  Ave  ho})e  the  not  lar,i;e  l)ut 
none  the  less  renowned  state  that  sent  us  in  to  the  army, 
whose  i»riiici]>le  ])roducts  are  said  to  be  ''ice  and  uran- 
ite  and  men,"'  will  not  regard  on  our  ])ajt  as  ill-timed 
or  ill-advised. 

First  of  all,  hovv'ever,  and  with  no  sjiecial  reference  to 
duties  incumbent  ui)on  our  state  autlioiities,  we  may 
express  the  judii'iueiit  that  no  soldier  of  the  riiion  Army 
should  keep  alive,  and  we  Ix'lieve  no  real  soldier  cai-es 
to  kee[)  aliv<',  the  animosities  and  prejudices  of  the  [»ast. 

Nor  should  oui-  northern  peo])]e  ask  southern  people 
to  wit  lihold  on  decoration  (tr  other  days,  ti-ibutes  of  love 
and  respect  from  their  dead  even  though  tliey  were 
engau'ed  in  a  lost  and  mistaken  cause. 


814  HISTOUY     OF    THE    SIXTEEXTII    KE(4IMENT 

When  we  of  the  Federal  army  meet  men  wlio  fought 
in  tlie  Confederate  ranlvs  we  lieartily  may  give  them  a 
Soulier's  salutation.  For  though  their  valor  was  misdi- 
rected, still  they  are  of  onr  blood  and  theii'  courage  and 
fortitude  on  the  battle  lield  were  su(di  as  entitle  them  to 
that  much  recognition. 

i^iit  we  are  not  called  upon  to  go  further,  or  to  be  in 
the  least  unmindful  of  the  princi}»lHs  for  which  the 
soldiers  in  the  nt)itlieru  army  enlisted  and  fought. 

And  more  than  this,  we  owe  it  to  the  past,  we  owe  it 
to  our  <lead,  we  owe  it  to  ourselves  and  we  owe  it  to  the 
future  to  keep  alive  the  conviction  that  the  cause  for 
which  the  Federal  army  fought,  was  just  and  right. 

This  faith  Ave  must  teach  to  onr  children  and  they  must 
be  told  to  teach  it  to  their  (diildren  ;  and  no  reasonable 
man  in  the  south  would  think  well  of  us  if  we  did  less 
than  this. 

Indeed  the  conviction  and  faith  that  we  were  right,  must 
constitute  the  fuel  of  the  real  camp  tires  that  are  to  be  kept 
Inu'uing  whih^  life  ]-emains  an.d  comi-ades  meet.  Onr  pat- 
riotism and  our  conscientious  (bd'ence  of  the  I'nion  were 
the  most  sacred  gifts  we  could  place  u])on  the  altar  of  Ani- 
eiican  liberty.     And  having  done  this  we  may  glory  in  it. 

May  we  not  also  remind  our  p^-ople  of  this,  that 
the  safety  of  the  re[iub]ic,  in  a  measure  at  least,  rests 
ui)on  their  fi-ank  acknowledgement  of  the  services  of  the 
soldier:;  If  patriotism  and  [x'lsonal  sacrifice  for  the 
country's  good  have  iio  recognition  above  that  accorded 
to  selfishness,  tht'U  the  body  })()liti<'  already  has  within 
itself  the  seeds  of  decav  and  death. 


NVAV    IIAMI'SIirUK    YOLrNTEKIlS.  815 

And  if  tli«'  tiiiit^  ever  coines  when  tlie  i)u])Ii(',  lieart 
i'eels  no  iudignat  ion  nt  tlie  uiuinalilied  annoinicement, 
for  instance,  that  '"aiiny  i)ensioneis  are  only  looters  ol' 
tlie  United  States  Treasury/'spoken  by  men  who  cow- 
ardly remained  at  home  when  otliers  were  in  the  held, 
then  we  may  well  beiiin  to  feel  solicitude  for  the  welfare 
of  tlie  Fedei-al  union. 

We  tiaist  all  pati'iotic  people  will  resent  such  retlec- 
tions  wdien  cast  u}»on  our  worthy  i)ensioners.  The  men 
wdio  composed  oui-  own  rei;iment  we  know  did  not  enlist 
for  pensions  or  money.  Some  of  them  received  a  bounty, 
it  is  true  but  it  was  taken  to  su2)ply  their  families  with 
food  and  clothinu'  while  they  were  in  the  held.  ])ut  the 
bounty  scarcely  entered  into  the  motives  that  led  our 
comrades  to  leave  their  comfortable  hresides  for  the 
sufferings  and  X)erils  of  army  life.  Many  of  our  men 
mtule  no  calculations  at  all  of  what  they  were  to  receive 
for  their  sei-\ic(^s.  They  spi-ang  to  the  natioiTs  defence, 
not  asking  for  money  oi'  honor  oi-  even  gi'atitude  but 
because  the  country  w^as  in  ]»eiil  and  w^as  })leading  for 
men  to  come  to  her  rescue.  .Vnd  now  that  >;oine  (d'  those 
defenders  need  hel]),  shall  the  counti'v  withhold  it  !l 

The  words  of  one  who  often  litis  sjtoken  in  the  soldiers' 
behalf  may  well  be  ([uot<'d  and  re[)eate(l  :  — 

"The  state  and  the  nation  uiust  not  forget  that  it  still 
owes  an  undischarged  obligation  to  the  survivoisof  that 
terrible  war.  The  promise  made  to  those  men  in  the 
hour  of  the  nation's  deadly  peiil  must  be  religiously 
kei)t,  foi-  the  uaMon  may  want  soldiers  again.  Many  of 
those  men   are   sulfei-ina,'    fi'om   wounds   and    (lisal)ilities 


316  IIISTOin'    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    EEGIMENT 

conti'acted  in  the  service,  and  from  tlie  increasing  in- 
firmities of  years.  Tlie  little  llags  in  the  cemeteries  are 
increasing,  and  witli  them  the  widows  and  orphans  of 
our  fallen  comrades. 

"Men  of  large  me;ins.  and  i)atriotic  men  in  the  day  of 
the  nation's  need,  came  to  her  relief  with  their  money, 
and  took  the  nation's  bonds  for  security.  The  soldiei-s 
of  the  nation  always  have  insisted  that  those  men  sliould 
be  i)aid  princii)al  and  interest  in  gold,  and  to  the  utter- 
most farthing,  and  they  have  been  so  paid. 

"The  defenders  of  the  tiag  took  their  pay  at  thirteen 
dollars  per  month  in  dei)reciated  currency,  some  of  the 
time  worth  thirty-three  cents  on  a  dollar;  and  will  the 
Ijondholders  and  property  owners  now  begrudge  to  those 
men  who  were  disabled  the  little  sum  allowed  them  by 
the  pension  law  of  the  United  States.' ' 

Such  ingraritiide  to  the  men  who  stood  l)etween  Lee's 
army  at  Gettyslmrg  and  our  northern  cities  during  the 
terrible  days  of  the  rebellion,  and  to  the  men  who  guarded 
and  defended  the  eniii-e  range  of  western  states,  and  to 
tlip  men  who  opened  the  Mississip})i  river  to  the  com- 
merce of  the  nation,  fj'om  (hiiro  to  its  mouth,  would  l)e 
as  base  a  return  for  suffering  and  sacrihce  as  one  can 
imagine. 

Another  thouglit  that  carries  witli  it  an  im})ortant 
lesson  to  our  state  administration,  is  that  Ave  should  be  in 
constant  readiness  for  wai'.  If  oui-  state  is  wise,  its 
action  as  to  the  futuie  \\]\\  be  nn)dilied  by  what  has 
taken  place  in  the  i)ast.  AVheii,  therefore,  we  i-ecall  how 
illy  pre]>ared  oui'  northern  troops  ^^^^Te  to  cope  with    the 


NKW     irA.MI'SIIIRE    VOLUNTEEKS.  1517 

south  at  tlie  beginning'  of  tlie  war,  and  wiien  we  recall 
what  our  losses  were  in  cousequence,  the  conviction  can- 
not fail  to  make  itself  felt  tliat  such  an  unmilitary  s])irit 
and  condition  iicvei-  again  should  be  allowed  to  exist  in 
New  Haini)sliii'e  oi-  in  New  England.  We  liad  to  pay 
too  deai'ly  for  thirty  yeai'S  of  militaiy  indifference  and 
carelessness  to  justify  at  any  time  the  sheathing  of  the 
sword. 

We  are  not  nnniindful.  while  saying  tliis.  tiiat  there 
is  rather  a  ])o|)nlai'  sentiment  which  contends  that  there 
need  be,  and  are  to  be  no  more  wars  ;  that  the  mission 
of  the  sword  has  ended;  that  all  armies,  therefore,  may 
be  disbanded  ;  that  nations  are  to  settle  their  disputes 
by  2)eaceful  arl)itration  ;  and  that  our  Ke}»ublic  no 
longer  needs  government  trooi)s,  state  militia,  or  power- 
ful navies. 

The  fact  is  rather,  tliat  while  wheat  and  tares  gi-oAv  to- 
gether on  the  same  soil,  and  on  the  same  soil  they  will 
grow  nntil  Christ  comes,  conflict  with  arms  must  be  pro- 
vided for.  Peace  measures  in  which  the  sword  is  dis- 
honored or  forgotten  more  than  once  have  been  tried, 
but  with  results  strikingly  uniform.  Carlyle,  speaking 
of  such  an  efl'ort  in  (Ireat  Britain,  says: — 

"The  iMiglish  nation,  having  Hung  its  old  Puritan 
sword  and  IMble  faith  into  the  cesspool,  oi'.  rathei',  hid- 
ing set  its  old  ]>ible  faith,  nnnus  any  swoi-d,  well  u[)  in 
the  organ-loft,  with  plenty  of  revenue,  there  to  ju'each 
and  organ  at  disci'etion,  on  condition  always  of  med- 
dling with  nobody's  practice,  thought  the  same  a  mighty 
pretty  ari'angement,  but  found  a  hitch  Ixd'oi'e  long." 


'Ali^  uisToJiV  OF  TJIE  sixtep:xtii  kegiment 

AW  hiive  every  reason  to  believe  in  the  Pnritnn  IMble. 
at  least  in  that  part  of  it  containing  the  Sermon  on  the 
Monnt.  ]^nt  to  lose  faith  in  the  Pnritan  sword  and  to 
tiing  it  now,  as  Carlyle  wonld  say,  ''into  the  cesspool," 
or  in  other  words  not  to  ])i'ovide  adeqnate  niilitai'y 
defences,  and  not  faithfnlly  to  cnltivate  the  militaiy 
sj)irit,  is  the  absurdest  and  snpreniest  of  follies. 

Men  may  talk  of  the  needlessness  of  war  until  hoarse, 
and  dream  of  millenninms  without  number  but,  rather 
the  wM)rld  should  be  looked  at  as  it  is  and  men  should  be 
regarded  as  they  are,  and  not  as  we  can  imagine  them 
to  be. 

The  fact  cannot  ])e  ignored  that  the  day  upon  whicdi 
moral  evil  entered  this  world,  and  corrupted  human 
hearts,  was  the  day  the  sw^ord  l)egan  to  have  its  use, 
even  at  the  gates  of  Paradise,  and  in  the  hands  of 
angels,  and  it  will  continue  to  have  its  dreaded  use 
until  moral  evil  no  longer  curses  the  earth.  The  man  of 
war  must  have  his  place  whenever  and  wdierever  is  found 
the  nmn  of  sin. 

Suppose  Europe  were  not  now  armed  (June  1807),  and 
suppose  she  had  m)t  the  military  s])irit,  and  could  do 
nothing  exce})t  to  cry,  "peace,  ])eacer''  Does  any  one 
imagine  that  there  w^ould  be  an  escape  from  an  Asiatic 
religious  war,  or  that  the  Turk,  whose  thirst  for  blood 
is  insatiable,  would  be  restrained  fi'oui  devastating 
Euro[)e,  with  sword  and  tirebrand,  north  and  south,  east 
and  westf  The  Tuik  in  fewei'  than  twenty  days  would 
deluge  Europe  in  blood,  if  Europe  were  defenceless. 

In  common  with  all  (Hir    readers  we    dei)loi'e  the    evils 


NKw   iia:\i  I'siiii;!-:  vou^tkers.  319 

imd  (l('\;ist:iM()iis  of  war  wIkmi  playiu.u'  "  the  game  of 
sovci'eiuiis."'  and  iieedlf'ssly  l»apti/aiig  (lie  eartli  in  soiTow 
and  l)l()()d.  Still  we  hold  rli<^  thcoi-y  now,  ])re('ise|y  as 
we  did  w  Ikmi  wc  cnlt^icd  the  l'nit(Ml  States  sc^i'vice  in 
1802.  that  ^\hil(^  the  swoi'd  is  an  evil,  it  is  in  this  woi'ld 
a  necessary  e\'il;  whih'  it  is  a  sconrge  it  may  also  he  a. 
balm. 

'•^Wdfi-s/nJI  "  ai'e    tlie   energetic    woids  of  one  of   our 
greatest  genei'als;  l)!it  onr  older  theologians  liave  tanght 
ns  that    liell,  in  a  iinivei-se  wliere  sin  seeks  the  mastery, 
is  a  necessity. 

''AVliile  to  engage  in  war  without  a  cleai'  necessity  is 
a  crime,"  as  Sonthey  says,  ''still  wlien  the  necessity  is 
clear,  it  then  becomes  a  crime  to  shrink  from  it." 

The  soldier  therefore  is  not  to  be  regarded  as  the  an- 
thor  of  war,  nor  is  he  ai-med  to  encourage  war.  He  is 
rather  a  minister  of  righteonsness  anthorized  to  maintain 
peace.  The  losses  of  war  are  to  be  deplored;  but  the 
crushing  of  tyrants,  the  salvation  of  societies,  the  pre- 
servation of  states  and  of  good  governments,  are  not  to 
be  deplored. 

Few  snblimer  sights  on  this  earth  could  be  witnessed 
than  the  leaping  of  a  million  swords  fi'oni  their  scal)bards 
to  end  a  disreputal)le  peace  (hat  has  been  pur(diased  at 
the  expense  of  an  endangered  re])ublic,  oi'  at  the  loss  of 
those  inalienable  rights  that  belong  to  a  true  and  noble 
maidiood. 

The  destiaiction  of  life  is  bad,  says  Dr.  IIedg(^  ''but  it 
is  not  the  woi'sl  of  evils.  The  waste  (d'  i)roperty,  the 
<lesolat ion  of  cit  ies  and  \  illau'es.  the  laiin  of  families,  the 


320  nisTor.Y   of  the  sixteenth  regiment 

tears  of  widows  and  orplmns,  ni^^  bad  ;  l)iit  tlie  sacrifice  of 
justice,  the  al^andoiiinent  of  pi'iiici2)le,  (he  loss  of  a 
nation's  i'i,i;hts.  ai-e  worse,  niKpiestionably  worse,  infi- 
nitely worse  than  bloodshed.'' 

It  is  true  that  under  certain  conditions  one  may  allow 
oneself  to  be  smitten  on  the  laii'lit  cheek  and  then  may 
turn  the  other  to  receive  the  second  blow.  ])Ut  for  a 
man  to  permit  an  assassin  unresisted  to  enter  his  neigh- 
bor's house  when  he  could  j^revent  it,  is  base,  and  that 
man,  moially,  is  a  criminal.  And.  too,  when  the  ])ubli(', 
or  when  oui'  bi-other  man,  or  any  woman  of  anj^  nation- 
ality in  Christendom  is  in  peril  and  looks  to  a  fellow 
man  for  }>rotection,  then  the  beautiful  plea  of  non- 
resistance  is  neither  safe,  sound,  manly.  i)hilantliropic, 
nor  religious. 

The  fact  is  that  the  day  for  melting  our  cannon  into 
church  bells  will  be  when  men  do  as  they  would  be  done 
by,  loving  philanthrophy  better  than  })lunder.  The 
time  for  beating  our  swords  into  ploughshares  and 
spears  into  i)runing  hooks  will  be  when  ploughshares 
can  turn  the  furrow,  and  when  all  other  industries  can 
be  i)ursued  without  fear  from  either  the  bludgeon  in  the 
hands  of  a  fellow  worknuin.  who  by  striking  has  lost  his 
place,  or  fiom  the  rich  man's  "trust"  by  which  one 
dares  to  take  advantage  of  the  necessities  of  the  poor, 
and  when  tyrants  have  ceased  to  oppress  and  rob  their 
sul)jects  beyond  endurance.  And  that  day  has  not  yet 
dawned.  But  moi-e  specifically  we  may  say  that  there 
ai'e  conditions  and  contingencies  in  our  country  today 
that  should  be  provided  for. 


jSTEW    ItAMl'SIIIRK    \()IJ'NTEE1IS.  o'il 

S;ii(l  (hmu'I'iiI  (lariiHld.  in  n  speecli  (leliv<'r(Ml  (luriiiii' 
IliH  ];il)()i'  tiou))l^'.s  of  1S77  :  "  1  ;im  I'oi'  tlie  rciiiii  of  law 
in  lliis  JkCpnhlic,  and  for  an  army  large  enongli  to  nial\<' 
it  snro."  ' 

Tliat  s<Mitinient,  "I  am  foi'  the  reign  of  law  in  this 
lif'pnhlic.  and  for  an  army  large  enongh  to  make-  it  sni'e,'' 
slionld  meet  with  the  ai)])i'()val  of  every  loyal  citi/en  and 
shonhl  l)e  written  in  letters  of  ilame  where  they  will  con- 
front tlie  hood  tide  of  inimigraiits  as  they  land  on  tliese 
Amei'ican  shores. 

That  is,  we  shouhT  lune  an  army  largi:"  enongh  to  de- 
fend the  rights  of  every  native  Ixn-n  and  loyal  citizen 
against  all  new  coniei-s  who  are  not  e(|nally  loyal. 

Perhaps  on  these  ])ages  we  onglit  not  to  he  any  nioj-e 
ex})li('it  than  we  have  l)een,  though  oui'  convictions  are 
clear  as  to  certain  perils,  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  that  are 
threatening  onr  national  existence. 

But  in  x:)assing  we  may  utter  this  word  of  warning  that 
if  the  day  ever  comes  when  the  mass  of  our  peo])le  cry 
and  sue  for  peace  ;  saying  in  words  and  conduct,  any- 
thing under  heaven  for  peace  ;  give  us  peace  without  any 
fighting  for  it;  whatever  demands  are  made  upon  us  and 
whatever  perils  threaten,  civil  or  ecclesiastical  give  us 
peace  ;  though  our  brothers  are  betrayed  and  murdered, 
though  our  sisters  are  outraged,  though  our  fathei's  and 
mothei's  are  crushed  under  the  heels  of  tyrants,  no 
matter  foi-  this,  if  we  oidy  can  ha\'e  jx'ace — Avhen  that 
day  comes  (hen  the  day  has  also  conn?  when  (lod  will  tnrn 
his  face  fi-om  us  and  say  as  he  did  of  (dd.  "(Uii'sed  is  In^ 
who  lioldetli  baidv  the  sword  fioni  blood." 


322  HISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGlMENT 

J\[(inTioo(l  is  worth  more  than  i^eace.  nnd  tlie  state  will 
not  liet  iiKiiihood  without  a  union  of  l)oth  the  religious 
and  tlie  lieroie  spirit. 

AVe  are  not  unniindriil  of  the  objection  sometimes 
urged  that  tlie  military  s])i]'it  and  military  education 
have  a  tendency  to  demoralize  the  citizen.  In  the  name 
of  our  dead  and  living- comrades  we  say  that  is  not  true. 

The  sword,  acquaintance  with  it,  and  the  use  of  it, 
may  he,  on  the  other  hand,  eminently  hinnanizing  and 
ennobling.  The  cause  for  whi(di  tlie  sword  is  drawn,  and 
the  motives  with  which  it  is  wielded,  decide  tlu-  moral 
effects  of  that  handling. 

In  the  loyal  gallery  at  Versailles  may  l)e  seen  an 
equestrian  porti'ait  of  Gosias,  Conte  de  Eautza,  Marshal 
of  France  in  KUo.  He  is  represented  as  sitting  upon  his 
horse,  with  one  wooden  leg  in  the  stirrup.  One  sleeve 
of  his  coat  is  empty.  Over  one  eye  is  a  painted  patch  to 
conceal  its  loss.  Only  one  ear  remains.  His  face  is 
scarred  and  war-worn,  yet  it  wears  a  high  and  noble 
expression. 

Over  the  painting  is  an  inscription,  containing  the 
name  of  the  soldier,  and  these  memorable  words:  "He 
scattered,  everywhere,  his  lind)s  and  his  glory  ;  his  l)lood 
was,  in  a  hundi-ed  ^daces,  the  price  of  his  victory  ;  and 
the  warfai'e  in  which  he  engaged  left  nothing  sound  al^out 
him  but  his  heart." 

Of  multitudes  of  our  soldiei's  battling  at  the  call  of  the 
state  in  a  righteous  cause  whatever  their  losses,  it  may  be 
said  tliat  tlieii-  hearts  like  that  of  the  French  Marshal 
remain  the  very  throne  of  lioiU)i'  and  pui'ity.      Scenes  of 


NKw    iiA.M  psiii  i;k   xoun'I'KKUs.  323 

s]aii,ii,lirtM'.  <'veii  the  most  tiM'rihle,  need  not  liarden  any 
soldiei'.  nor  need  tlie  freedom  and  relaxation  ot*  rami)  ''ii'l 
uairisoii  life,  of  necessity,   pr(.dnce   ""  criminal  license."" 

.loslina  and  N(dieniiali,  anioni;'  the  Jews;  Xenoj)iion, 
one  of  the  noblest  generals  amoni:,'  the  (Ireeks  ;  Scijiio. 
ec^nally  eminent  among  the  Romans;  Cornelius,  one  of 
th<'  lirst  (rentile  converts  of  the  chi'istian  religion  ; 
Tnr^'nne,  ]\rarll)orongh.  Miles  Standish,  (li-aiit,  Farragnt, 
and  others  of  the  most  distinguished  military  and  naval 
heroes  of  history,  have  united  with  the  martial  sjni-it 
absolute  uprightness  and  untainted  moral  puiity. 

While  Moses  was  at  prayer  among  the  monntains, 
Joshua  w^as  wielding  the  sword  on  the  plains;  and, 
Joshua  not  Moses  was  thought  to  be  the  titter  to  eiitei- 
tlie  Land  of  Promise.  And  the  Master  tlie  most  noble 
and  tender  of  men  was  the  one  who  said  ^  ''  I  am  come 
not  to  send  peace  on  earth  but  a  sword." 

At  the  time  when  ancient  Israel  w^as  utterly  Godless, 
was  the  time,  too,  when  there  Avas  not  a  shield,  nor  a  spear 
to  be  seen  among  the  forty  thonsand  of  her  degraded 
people. 

Florence  Nightengale,  writing  of  herself  in  a  letter  to 
a  brigade  of  British  volnnteei's  says,  I  have  seen  more 
than  any  nmn,  what  a  horrid  thing  waris,  yet  T  feel  more 
than  any  nmn  that  the  militai-y  s[)iritin  a  good  cause,  is 
a  matchless  h';i\-en  for  the  National  character." 

And  when  oui'  war  ended  the  world  had  one  of  tlu' 
most  striking  illustrations  jyossiblc  of  what  we  are  say- 
ing. 

Our  soldiei's  did  not  return  as  a   mol)  of  despei'adoes 


',i'2-i  IltSTOKY    OF    TllK    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

;iii(l  bandits  :  biif  in  n  few  days  tliree  niiglity  armies  at 
the  wold  of  coiiiniand  grounded  their  arms,  disbanded 
their  organizations  and  quietly  disappeared  from  iiekls 
of  carnage. 

""One  (hiy  tliose  sokliers  stood  tliH  niightiest  force  on 
eaitli  ;  the  next  day  they  were  oni-  peaceful  fellow 
citizens.  As  a  summer  storm  darkens  the  wliole  heavens, 
shakes  the  ground  with  its  thunder  and  empties  its 
(juiver  of  lightning  and  is  gone  in  an  hour,  as  if  it  had 
nevei'  been,  so  was  it  with  our  armies."" 

More  than  thirty  years  have  passed  since  the  muster  out 
of  oiir  own  regiment.  The  president  of  our  legimental 
association  has  V)een  making  for  tliree  years  a  most 
exhaustive  inquiry  into  the  life  and  whereabouts  of  our 
men.  The  following  bearing  on  the  point  before  us  is 
what  he  reported  two  yeai's  ago  and  reiterates  today: 

"The  Sixteenth  Regiment  has  had  no  representatives 
in  penal  institutions,  reformatories  or  cliarital)]e  institu- 
tions. One  comrade  was  in  our  state  home  at  Tilton, 
which  was  no  discredit  to  him  or  to  us.  A  liberal  jier- 
centage  are  men  of  prominence  in  their  chosen  trades 
and  jU'ofessions.'" 

Facts,  therefore,  warrant  us  in  saying  that  amid  all 
the  liorrors  of  clashing  arms,  and  of  ganuents  i-olled  in 
blood,  tlic  ti'iK'  and  hci-oic  soldier,  instead  of  losing,  may 
add  inimtuistdy  to  his  jx^rsonal  i-ighteousness  and 
nol)ility. 

In  this  country,  it  is  the  seltish,  cowardly  spii-it  that 
insists  on  sheathing  the  swoi'd,  which,  is  most  to  be 
feared. 


NEW    IIAMI'SIIIKE    VULUJN'TEEUS.  32.0 

"  What  constitutes  a  State  .'' 

Not  high-raised  l)attleiiieiits,  or  hi1)ore(l  iiioiiiid, 
Thick  wall  or  moled  gate  ; 

Not  cities  proud,  with  spires  and  tunnels  crowned, 
Not  1ja}s  and  broad-armed  jjorts, 

Where,  laughing  at  the  storm,  rich  na\ies  ride  ; 
Nor  starred  and  spangled  courts. 

Where  low-browed  baseness  wafts  perfume  to  pride. 

No.     Men.  high-minded  men. 

With  powers  as  far  above  dull  brutes  endued 
In  forest,  brake,  or  den, 

As  beasts  excel  cold  rocks  and  brambles  rude — 
Men  who  their  duties  know, 

But  know  their  rights,  and,  knowing,  dare  maintain, 
Prevent  the  long-armed  blow. 

And  crush  the  tyrant  while  they  rend  the  chain, — 
These  constitute  a  State." 

It  is  as  clenr  as  dayliiilit  tliat  if  our  cotintiy,  in  her 
scliools  and  aiiioiii;' lier  [»e()})l(^  will  cultivate  tlie  iiiilitai'v 
spirit  as  slie  <)U,i!,lit,  if  tlie  citizeiislii])  of  tlie  sevei-al 
states  is  properly  em-olled  and  di-illed,  and  if  the  timid, 
selfisli  and  unchristian  ciy  foi'  '■  peace  at  any  cosf  is  no 
longer  heard  within  our  l)oi'ders,  then,  so  far  as  war  with 
any  foreign  nation  on  earth  is  com^erned,  we  have  noth- 
ing to  feai'  and  the  day  of  our  peace  lias  come.  In 
safety  our  repul)lic  thus  prepai-ed  could  dictate,  on  any 
righteous  lueasure,  tei'ins  of  pea<'e  to  the  whoh'  woi  Id. 

Have  we  forgotten  wliat  happened  even  w  h<'n  the 
Federal  governnuMit  had  its  hands  full,  lighting  the  I'e- 
bellion  ?  Secretary  Seward  at  that  ci-iti(^al  time  (lai'e(l  to 
say  to  Na})oleon  III,  you  would  better  withdraw  youi' 
troops  from    j\Iexican    soil    with  as  lifth'     delay    as  pos- 


826  TiisToKY  OF  THE  sixtep:ntii   uegiment 

sible.  And  Napoleon,  tlionuli  backed  by  the  entire 
French  eni})ire,  by  Anstria  and  the  A'atican.  did  not  de- 
hiy  an  honr. 

Wlien  we  said  to  the  ]3i-itish  Empire  the  otlier  day  that 
v,e  must  liave  a  liand  in  settling'  the  A^eneziielan  diffi- 
culty, our  demand  though  (Questionable,  was  granted 
with  as  great  dispatch  as  could  be  ex})ected. 

The  way  for  our  nation  to  prevent  war  is  to  be  pre- 
pared for  it,  and  the  way  for  her  to  check  the  wrongs 
and  tyrannies  of  the  whole  world  is  to  l)e  courageous 
and  s])eak  out. 

If,  therefoi'e,  in  view  of  what  has  ])een  said,  it  is  (dear 
that  the  heroic  aiul  niilitai'y  spirit  is  of  service  and  that 
it  should  not  be  allowed  to  slumber  as  it  did  in  our 
noi-thern  states  during  the  years  })receding  the  late  war  ; 
if  it  is  clear  that  our  nation  among  the  nations  of  the 
earth  has  a  larger  mission  than  as  yet  has  ])een  claimed 
for  her  ;  and  if  it  is  true  that  the  day  of  nniversal  ])eace 
has  not  yet  dawned,  then  we  may  oifer  a,  single  additional 
plea,  namely,  that  military  weapons  must  not  be  left 
exclusively  in  the  hands  of  what  are  called  government 
and  niercenai'y  troo2)s.  l)ut  also  and  largely  should  l)e  in 
the  hands  of  an  oi'ganized  and  disciplined   state  ndlitia. 

"  It  is  certain."  said  Madison,  ''that  liberty  cannot 
be  safe  with  poweid'ul  standing  armies,  and  that,  with- 
out an  eifective  nnlitia,  the  danger  of  such  aiauies  can- 
not be  i)recluded."'  'idle  history  and  fate  of  the  re])ub- 
lics  of  Greece  and  Ivome.  of  (^enoa  and  \'enice.  area 
standing  wai'uing  against  the  transfer  ul  the  sword  from 
the  militia  to  a   mercemu-v  soldiery. 


NEW     HAM  PSIIIKK    \()I>rNTEEr.S. 


327 


"NVe  <](»  iiof  say  that  what  is  termed  tlu^  ''  reiiiilai-  army,"" 
in  a  nation  of  considerable  mai;iiitnde  like  ours,  is  nse- 
less.  Often  it  is  serviceahle  in  the  exei-cise  of  the  bal- 
ance of  po^^('l•  ill  siuhh^n  e)ne^^•encies.  It  is  availabh^ 
as  a  sort  of  nio\eable  ])olice  force,  in  jireseiit  Ini;"  a  speedy 
check  to  slight,  local  ii[>risinus  and  it  tnerywliere  in- 
sjiires  respect,  l)einii'  the  representative  of  the  nalional 
i;x)vernment. 

]5nt  what  we  insist  on  is  llial  in  the  midst  of  ,i!,reat 
])erils  the  state  militia  is  the  surest  bulwark  of  a  nation's 
rights.  ''It  is  the  wall,  beliiii<l  which  a.  free  people 
may  pursue  their  honest  toil  iinharmt'd.""  it  was  the  state 
militia  of  New  England  innhn'  I  he  old  Provincial  liai;-  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  which  made  the  Indian  tremble  as' 
"he  saw  them  pass  along  in  martial  order/'  It  was  the 
state  militia  of  New  England  which  stood  the  hrst  shock 
of  the  llevoliil  ionary  war  in  177;").  It  was  the  state 
militia  of  New  Hamjjshire  that  j>rotected  its  legislatiii'e 
dni'iug  the  distiii'bances  and  disait'ections  in  b7S2.  It 
was  the  state  militia  of  Massachusetts  that  qnelled  the 
Shay's  insnrrection  in  178().  It  was  the  state  militia  of 
Pennsylvania  which  enforced  the  law  ami  maintained 
order  during  the  insnrj'ectioirs  of  171)4-''98. 

During  the  war  of  1SI2  when  the  enemy  was  hovei-ing 
ah)ng  onr  coast  and  the  national  forces  were  witlidrawn. 
they  wer<^  the  organized  and  officered  New  England 
militia  coni]»anies  whicli,  Avith  twenty  four  hours'  notice, 
gai-risoned  and  jji-otccted  all  onr  posts  and  seaboard 
cities.  It  v^as  the  state  militia  that  in  sevei-al  diifereid 
commonwealths  (pwlled  the  riots  of  1877. 


828  IIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMEXT 

And  in  18()1,  when  our  country's  capital  was  besieged, 
when  our  national  archives  were  tljreatened,  when  our 
way  to  Wasliington  was  blocked  in  the  streets  of  Balti- 
more, the  first  troops  that  fought  their  way  to  the  protec- 
tion and  rescue  of  the  city  of  AVashington  were  the  state 
ujilitia  of  Massachusetts. 

These  instances  are  convincing  illustrations  of  the 
efficiency  and  necessity  of  the  sword  in  the  hands  of  a 
state  militia  under  state  orders. 

Our  conviction  is,  therefore,  that  every  boy  of  twelve 
or  fifteen  years  of  age  in  the  state  of  New  Ham[)shire 
should  learn  to  go  through  the  manual  of  arms.  And 
it  would  be  a  health  giving  and  heroic  discipline  if  all  our 
])oys  were  taught  to  draw  and  poise  the  sword  on  horse- 
back and  to  ram  the  cartridge  in  a  field  piece  of  any 
calibre. 

Every  hirge  ])ublic  school  in  our  state  like  the  schools  of 
(irermany,  should  have  its  military  battalion  and  its 
di'ill-master  in  iiiilitai'y  science.  Our  })ul)li('  schocds 
should  l)e  called  together  and  dismissed,  not  with  the 
bell,  but  with  the  drum  and  fife. 

And  no  arguuient  is  needed  to  show  that  if  the  youth 
of  our  hiiul  had  been  thus  i)roperly  schooled  and  drilled 
pi-ioi'  to  JSCii  the  (confederacy  never  would  have  reached 
the  nuignitude  it  assumed,  aud  we  should  not  have  been 
called  u})on  to  write  this  history  of  the  Sixteenth  Regi- 
ment of  New  Hampshire  N'olunteers. 


ROSTER  OF  OUR  DEAD  AND  LIVING  COMRADES, 

AND 

PERSONAL  SKETCHES, 

SIXTHHNTH  RHGIMHNT   NHVV  HAMPSHIRH  VOLUNTHHKS. 

WrrilOl'T  licsitatidii  niid  wit  liout  any  immodesty 
or  impro})riety  the  historian  may  say  tliat  no 
voliinteei'  regiment  lias  a  moi-e  comjdete  roster 
tliah  oni-s.  I'nt  tlie  rredit  of  it  belongs  in  scaicely  any 
measiii-e  to  tlie  liistorian,  l)iit  fii-st  of  all  to  Adjntant- 
(leneral  A.  1).  Aylini;'. 

Tlie  historian  may  be  allowed  also  to  say  that  he  lias 
examined  many  war  ri^poi'ts,  but  in  th<"  matter  of  I'lilb 
ness,  in  evidences  of  iintirini;-  reseai-<di  and  in  downriu,Iil 
faithfulness  (leneral  Aylin^-'s  llevised  Ile,ii,ister  of  the 
Soldiers  ami  Sailoi-s  of  bSOl -"(;(;.  sui-passes  all  other 
registers  and  rp})oi'ts  that  we  have  examined.  His 
register  we  hereby  acdsiiowh^lge  has  l)een  of  inestimable 
service  in  completing  oui-  woi'l-i. 

To  the  untii-iiig  laltois  of  ('oiiii'ad*'  Henry  L.  Johnson, 


332  JIISTOltY    OF    THE    ^^IXTEENTII    EEGIMENT 

tlie  historian  also  is  indebted.  Indeed  lie  is  indebted  to 
such  extent  that  he  may  almost  say  that  the  roster  and 
sketches  are  not  his  work  at  all,  but  literally  is  that 
of  Comrade  Johnson. 

As  several  of  our  regiment  may  know,  (^)nirade  John- 
son has  s})ent  much  of  his  time  during  tlie  past  tliree 
years  in  correcting  former  j'^cords  and  in  searcliing  for 
the  unreported  members  (rf  our  regiment.  In  some 
instances  his  labors  have  been  like  those  of  a  detective 
after  fugitives. 

Since  (mtering  upon  this  work  lie  has  sent  out  more 
than  foui-  thousand  circulars  and  letters,  si)nriiiii-  liim- 
self,  in  other  respects,  neither  labor  nor  expense.  At 
times,  he  has  Avrought  in  the  work  as  if  under  an  insi)ira- 
tion  and  tlie  result  is  a  perfect  roster  so  far  as  a  work  of 
tlie  kind  can  be  perfect. 

In  the  highest  degree  oui'  earnest  and  laborious  presi- 
dent <d'  the  association,  Henry  L.  .lohnsoii,  is.  therefore, 
deserving  of  the  congratulations  and  gratitude  of  every 
person  interested  in  the  Sixteenth  New  Hampshire 
Regiment. 

The  materials  for  the  following  sketches  in  tlie  main 
have  been  obtained  from  the  surviving  menil)ers,  from 
the  kindred  and  friends  of  those  who  are  deceased,  from 
the  roster  compiled  in  1895  l)y  Comrade  Johnson,  ami 
fi'om  personal  recollections. 

That  cuts  and  sketches  of  every  meml)er  of  the  regi- 
ment do  not  appeal-  in  the  roster  is  a  regret  to  us  but 
cei'tainly  is  no  fault  of  ours  as  will  be  seen  from  the  fol- 
lowing communications  sent    to   the  nearest  living  kin- 


NEW    HAMPSIIIUE    VOLTTNTEEKS.  8)58 

(Ired  of  our  detid  coniiiKh's  and  to  all  comrades  known 
to  be  li\  iiiu'. 

Early  in  the  year  lSi)C},  ji  circular  was  sent  to  every 
l)erson  su])|)osed  to  Lave  a  personal  interest  in  onr  regi- 
nieiit,  containing'  the  following  announcement  : — 

"A  history  of  the  })ersonal  and  military  service  of  our 
regiment  is  l)eing  written.  It  is  desired  that  the  woik 
shall  have  the  liktMiesses  and  life  sket<dies  of  all  now 
living  who  desire  it,  and  of  those  of  our  honored  dead 
whose  friends  or  kindred  will  i)rovide  the  material  and 
means  to  accomplish  it.  It  will  be  necessary  for  ns  to  l)e 
]»rovide(l  with  a  photogi'aph  and  sketch,  sul)ject  to  revi- 
sion by  the  author.  The  cost  of  each  cut  and  insertion 
will  be  three  dollars.  Those  comrades  who  paid  for  cuts 
for  the  roster  can  have  them  used  witlr  2>fi'^onal  history 
for  one  dollar  each.  Eatdi  comrade  is  eai-nestly  re- 
quested to  nuike  this  matter  Isuown  to  the  fidends  and 
kindred  of  deceased  comrades  that  they  may  avail  them- 
selves of  this  o])i)ortunity  to  have  the  pictnres  and  life- 
sketches  of  their  loved  ones  in  a  work  of  history  that 
will  be  un  enduring  monument  to  theii-  patriotism."' 

A  year  later  the  following  cii-ciilar  was  likewise  si^it 
to  all  living  couirades  and  to  the  friends  of  those  who 
ai'e  deceased  :  — 

Washinoton,   D.   C,  Jamtaiy  i,   iSg~. 

Dear  Comradk  ; 

Excepting  some  work  on  the  revision,  the  history  of  our  regi- 
ment is  now  completed.  It  is  first  to  l)e  published  in  'Flic  (ijai/i/r 
Monthly,  Concord,  N.  H.  Wdl  you  favor  the  author  by  sending 
to  him  any  matters  of  personal  interest  relatnig  to  our  army  life 
fhat  you  may  like  to  have  introduced  in'o  t)]e  history  when  issued 


334  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

ill  book  form  ;  aUo  a  photograph  of  yourself  if  one  is  not  already 
in  our  possession.  We  will  have  a  cut  made  from  the  photograph 
for  use  in  the  history  if  you  will  bear  the  expense  of  having  it 
made  and  the  expense  of  setting  up  a  personal  sketch  of  your  life, 
which  will  be  ai)out  three  dollars,  two  for  the  plate  and  one  for 
the  sketch.  In  case  of  those  whose  plates  already  are  in  the  hands  of 
tlie  association,  there  will  be  the  charge  of  one  dollar  only  for  the 
sketch.  All  subject-matter  of  this  class  should  be  in  the  hands 
of  the  historian  on  or  before  March  i,  1897. 

If  while  reading  the  history  as  published  in  The  Granite  Montlily 
any  mistakes  are  noticed,  or  if  any  matters  of  interest  have  been 
omitted  that  occur  to  the  mind  you  will  please  notify  the  historian. 
This  class  of  subject-matter  will  be  received  as  late  as  June  i,  1S97. 

Yours  in  F.   C.   and  L,., 
L,uTHER  T.  TowNSEND,  Henrv  L.  Johnson, 

Rcoinuntal  J //sloria?/ .  President  Assoeiation. 


(sX^^Xfi) 


REGIMENTAL    AND    STAFF   OFFICERS. 


Co/one/  ^amcs  y^/A^c. 

Colonel  James  Pike,  wns  liorii  in  Salisl)ui'y,  jSIass., 
November  ](),  1818,  and  was  tlie  son  of  Caleb  and 
Mavy  Pike.  Pearly  in  life  he  bccann'  a  pii]:)il  in  the  once 
rioniisliino-  academy  at  Newtields,  N.  II.,  then  nnder  the 
patronage  of  New  England  Methodists,  bnt  afterwai'd 
was  removed  to  AVilbi-aliani.  Mass..  wliei-e  it  is  still  in 
siiccessfnl  ojteratioii. 

His  collegiate  edneation  was  ()])tain(^d  at  the  Wesleyan 
University,  ^Nliddletown,  Conn.  'I'liat  institution  in  1878, 
confeiTed  upon  liiin  the  (h'gree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 
Tn  1841  at  Portsmouth.  X.  II.,  he  was  licensed  to  ineach. 


)V.]i')  HISTORY    OK    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

joiniiiii'  file  New  lI;iiH]»sliiie  ('onference.  He  was 
ordained  deacon  in  1848  and  elder  in  1845.  His  fields  of 
ministerial  lal)or  were  Hooksett,  N.  IT.,  1841-"'42  ;  Pem- 
brolve,  N.  H.,  1843-44;  Nashua,  N.  H.,  1845-40;  New- 
market, 1847-48;  Lawrence,  Mass.,  1849;  Great  Falls, 
N.  H.,  1850-51,  and  Haverliill,  iSfass..  1852.  He  was 
presiding  elder  of  Dover  District,  1 853-' 54.  He  i)reaclied 
at  Fisherville  N.  H.,  1850.  He  was  presiding  elder  of 
Concord  District,  1800-' 02.  He  supplied  Walnut  Street, 
Chelsea,  Mass.,  during  the  AVinter  of  1803.  He  was 
agent  for  the  New  Hampshire  Conference  Seminary, 
1804,  and  preached  at  Portsnioutli,  1805-00.  He  was 
presiding  elder  of  Dover  District,  1807-'7<>,  and  of  Clare- 
niont  District,  1871-'72.  He  })reached  at  Manchester, 
N.  H.,  St.  Paurs,  1873-74.  He  was  presiding  elder  of 
Concord  District,  1875-70,  and  of  Dovei-  District,  1877- 
'80.  He  held  a  supernumerary  relation,  1881  ;  preached 
in  Bristol,  N.  H.,  1882-83  ;  was  supernumerary  in  1884, 
and  ])reaclied  in  Epping,  N.  H.,  1885. 

Hi  the  latter  pastorate  he  closed  his  active,  long  and 
useful  ministry,  with  which  he  permitted  his  congres- 
sional and  military  service  but  slightly  to  interfere.  He 
was  elected  to  represent  the  first  New  Hami)shire  district 
ill  the  memoiable  thirty-fourth  Congress,  and  was  re- 
elected to  the  tliirty-hfth  Congress. 

He  enlisted  Octol)er  28,  1802,  as  a  private  and  was 
commissioned  colonel  November  1.  1802,  and  served  until 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

In  1871,  Colonel  Pike  was  the  Republican  candidate 
for  Goveriuu'  of  New  Hampshire,  receiving  33,892  votes 


NEW    IIAMI'SIIIIM':    V(»LI'NTEKH8.  337 

against  34,700  cast  for  James  A.  Weston  tlie  Democratic 
nominee,  and  1,137  for  the  other  candidates.  There  be- 
ing- no  eh:'ction  by  i)()])nlar  vote,  tlie  legislatnre  elected 
James  A.  Weston,  (lovernor. 

(^)lonel  Pike  died  at  Newtields,  N.  Il.,July  2(5,  1805,  age 
seventy-seven  years.  His  mortal  lemairrs  were  followed 
to  theii"  last  resting  place  by  some  who  had  served  nnder 
him,  and  in  that  service  had  learned  that  there  is  more 
in  military  service  than  the  gratihcation  of  a  vain  and.)i- 
tion,  or  the  cnltivation  of  a  violent  sj)iiil. 

Colonel  Pike  was  educated  for  the  ministry,  and  while 
not  an  ideal  military  man,  was  just  and  humane,  ap})!}'- 
ing  the  ])rinciples  of  his  religion  to  all  liisacts.  'j'hose 
who  were  the  recipients  of  his  oft-bestowed  peisonal 
attentions,  remember  him  as  a  kind,  just  and  loving 
regimental  commander. 


liiiS  TTISTOUY     OK    THE    SIXTKENTIl     UF,(;i.MKXT 


^leutenat-Co/ono^   ^cnrj/    2£^.     ^'u/icr. 


Lienteiuint- Colonel  Henry  W.  Fuller,  was  born  in 
llooksett,  N.  11..  July  30,  1880.  and  was  tlie  son  of  David 
Gordon  Fuller  and  ,Iane  Converse  Fuller.  He  fitted  for 
college  in  ]^end)roke  Academy,  N.  H. 

His  sul)se([uent  career  is  so  well  set  forth  in  tlie  tribute 
l»;iid  liini  by  the  Loyal  Leo-ion.  ATassacdiusetts  Coni- 
mandery,  that  \vh  inlroducn  it  in  full  :  — 

''Whereas,  l)y  disix^nsat  ion  of  tiiat  supreme  power 
which  creates  aud  u})h()l(ls  the  universe  and  is  sovereign 
ovei' every  human  liiV.  diiecting  its  course  and  ordaining 
its  (dose,   over   comi)aniou  and  comi-ade,  (leneral   Henry 


NKW     HAMI'SIIIRE    V( )  L  I' XTEEKS.  839 

\V.  I'lilli'i' Ims  IxM'ii  talvcii  fi-oni  iis  to  I'ct-iii'ii  no  moi'o,  wo. 
his  coiiipniiioiis  of  the  Ijoyal  Ij(',i;ioii,  pi'oud  of  his  l)ia\<' 
an: I  hoiioiabh'  life,  rejoicini;'  in  liis  li-ood  fame,  and  sori'ow- 
ini;'  most  oi"  all  that  we  sliall  sec  his  face  no  inoi'c,  h('r.'l)y 
express  onr  dei^)  sense  of  pei-sonal  bereavement  in  liis 
death,  onr  hi^h  appreciation  of  his  (diivalrons  and  noble 
natnre.  and  onr  jnst  [)iid"'  in  his  careci'.  \\hi(di,  thonuh, 
finislied  ere  it  toii<die<l  tlie  inei'idian.  niiiiht  well  be  the 
envy  of  tliree  score  years  and  ten. 

''The  siinph^st  and  briefest  sninniai-y  of  (Tem-ial 
l''nllei'"s  life,  is,  in  itself  a  enlooy  niid  nothini;-  more  is 
needed  to  sa t is fy  t lie  wa riuest  fi-iendship.  lie  i^'i-ad  iialed 
fi'oiii  Dart  moni  h  ( 'ol]ei;-e  in  1  sr»7,  the  yomii;,'est  mendiei'  of 
his  class.  lmmedial<dy  upon  leavini;' colle^'e  he  ent<M-ed 
iijjon  tlie  study  of  the  law  at  the  llarvai'd  law  school  and 
uradualed  from  that  iirstitution  in  ]8r)l)  with  the  hiuhest 
honors,  winning-  tin:"  first  priz:^  in  the  competition  of 
essays  i)resented  for  examination.  He  snbsequently 
read  law  in  the  office  of  the  hite  Hon.  A.  S.  Marshall, 
Concord,  N.  H. 

"  Then  came  th<^  Civil  War.  He  fortliwith  enlisted  as 
a  iii'ivate  on  Aju'il  "il),  18()1,  and  was  rapidly  and  success- 
ively [)romote(l  first  lientenant  in  the  tii'st.  captain  in  the 
fifth,  major  and  then  lientenaiit-colon<d  in  the  Sixteenth 
New  Hampshire  A'olunteers.  Later  on.  November  'io, 
1S0:>,  he  was  made  colonid  of  th<'  Seventy-Fifth  I'nited 
States  (-oloi-ed  Infanti-y  and  Jinally,  Mai'ch  13,  ISOf),  was 
l))'omoted  brevet  briii,-adier-,<i'eneial  of  I'nited  Stall's  \^)1- 
nnteei's.  He  seived  through  the  wai\  lie  was  a  liaie 
soldier.      The  ijei;-ion  will  pi'ou<lly  i('m<^nd)ei'  and    trans- 


340  ITTSTOUY    OF    TITK    HIXTEENTIT    IIEOIMENT 

niif  the  record.  At  the  close  of  the  war  lie  became  a  citi- 
zen of  Ijoiiisiana  and  engaged  in  cotton  ])lanting.  lie 
soon  gi'ew  very  popular  with  the  best  i)eoi)le  of  the  coni- 
mnnity  in  which  he  lived  and  was  nnaniniously  selected 
to  repi-esent  them  in  the  Constitntional  Convention  at  New 
Oi-leans  to  frame  a  constitntion  for  the  state. 

''He  was  one  of  the  j)iincii)al  figures  in  that  Conven- 
tion and  had  he  chosen  to  remain  in  Louisiana  there  can  be 
no  qnestion  that  higher  honors  would  have  sought  his 
acceptan(!e.  Bnt  in  18C7,  he  returned  to  Massachusetts, 
to  lloxbury,  to  resume  the  practice  of  the  law.  He 
soon  ac(]uii'ed  and  held  a  constantly  increasing  clientage; 
troo])s  of  friends  thronged  around  hiui  eager  to  do  him 
service;  public  official  honors  were  pressed  upon  him. 

"  He  was  elected  for  one  year  to  the  C(mimon  Council  of 
Boston  and  declined  a  re-election.  He  served  the  State 
for  four  years  in  the  House  of  Representatives  and  two 
in  the  Senate. 

''In  each  of  these  positions  he  naturally  and  easily  took 
a  leader's  part.  Pie  served  Avith  distinction  upon  the 
most  important  committees,  notablj^  the  judiciary,  and 
was  conspicuous  in  all  the  important  debates  of  House 
and  Senate. 

''The  last  honor  which  it  gialilied  his  friends  so  much 
to  see  conferred  ii]»on  him,  was  his  ap])ointment  as  Judge 
of  the  Afunicipal  Couit  of  H()xl)ury.  All  who  knew  him 
felt  that  in  this  new  sphei-e  of  ])rofessionaI  service,  he 
would  dev(do|)  and  demoustiafe  powers  and  acquirements 
tliat  would  lead  to  higluM'  piouiot ions  in  wider  fields  of 
judicial  and  h^uisla t i\('  duty. 


NEW     IIA.M  I'SII  I  I;K    VuH'NTKEKS.  'Ml 

"  But  it  wiis  not  t(»  be.  He  had  just  assumed  the  duties 
of  his  new  ottice  Avlien  death  called  him  and  (dosed  the 
record.  To  the  eye  of  grief  and  friendsliip  and  desolated 
love  it  seems  an  nnfinished  record,  [)rematui'ely  ended. 
But  what  is  written  is  well  written  and  needs  no  revision. 
No  line  or  word  to  be  erased  or  foi'gotten  but  all  fail-  and 
noble,  worthy  of  the  light  of  day  and  of  everlasting 
remend)rance.  The  Legion  will  enter  upon  its  archives 
this  truthful  transcript  of  an  honorable  and  i)atriotic 
life  and  (diei'ish  it  as  one  of  its  treasnres. 

''It  also  begs  to  present  to  the  family  of  our  deceased 
brother  this  sincere  tribnte  of  love  and  honor  to  his 
memory." 

AVe  may  add  that  he  was  a  strict  disciplinarian,  a 
remarkably  cool  headed  officer,  a  patriotic  and  conr- 
ageons  soldier  who  never  shrank  from  the  performance 
of  his  whole  duty  at  any  time  or  in  any  place. 


:U2 


ITISTOIJY    OF    TIIK    SIXTEENTH    1:E(UMENT 


Y/^ay'or   tjcr/nue/    "/Javts. 


Mnjor  Samuel  Davis,  was  born  in  Bradford,  N.  H., 
March  7,  ]828.  His  early  edncation  was  obtained  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  at  the  academy  at 
TIancock,  N.  II.  In  1841)  he  entered  the  mi litai'y  academy 
at  West  Point,  wliere  he  took  the  full  five  year  course. 
The  last  fourteen  months  of  tliat  time  Ik^  was  with  the 
North  Pacilic  Kailroad  Exploration  Survey,  under  Gen- 
eral Isaac  I.  Stevens. 

Majoi'  Davis  was  connected  with  the  Scientific  Corps 
and  had  chari!,-e  of  the  barometi'ical  Survey  and  Meteoro- 
logical Department  I'oi'  sonK'hfteeii  li  iindr<'(l  miles  to  the 


NKW    II  AM  rs  II I  im;   \()LI'ntkki;s.  848 

PmIIcs  of  tliH  ('()liiiiil)i:i.  Tlif  i-()UtH  lay  Mii-oiiu'li  tlin 
lands  ol'  some  twenty  diU'ciciit  Indian  tribes  and  tlie 
experiences  of  the  expedition  were  romantic  and  advent- 
urous. 

Keturninii,'  to  New  Ham jtsliire.  ]\rajor  Davis  entered 
npon  the  study  of  tlie  law,  in  the  office  of  the  late  Hon. 
Herman  Foster,  of  Manchestei.  and  was  admitted 
to  the  ]^ar  in  February,  IS.OS.  He  o[>ened  an  office  in 
Enfield  Centei',  N.  II..  where  he  piacti('<Ml  until  ISOO, 
and  then  he  removed  to  Warner.  Since  that  time  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  that  town. 

When  the  Civil  AVar  bi'oke  out,  Majoi-  Davis  was  in 
the  active  practice  of  his  profession  and  with  a  youni;- 
and  promisini^'  family.  He  left  all  at  the  call  of  his 
country,  ujjon  the  formation  of  the  Sixteenth  Regiment 
New  Ham})sliire  \'olunteers.  He  enlisted  as  a  })rivate 
and  w^as  elected  captain  o\'  ('om[)any  H,  but  befoi-e  the 
reuiuient  left  the  state  he  was  <'ouimissioned  major,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  until  the  ]-egiment  was 
mustered  out. 

]\Ia jor  Davis  was  on  board  the  Steamer  Ariioixi  at  the 
attack  on  Fort  I)Ui'ton,  at  the  evacuation  of  which  ]dace 
he  received  an  iiijiiiy,  fi-oin  tlicelfects  of  wliicdi  he  never 
has  fully  ]'eco\ercd.  After  his  i-egiment  was  mustered 
out,  Major  Davis  spiuit  a  few  months  at  lioiue  with  his 
family  then  retiiiiuMl  to  AVasliington.  and  passed  an 
examination  befoi-(^  (^i^ntu-al  Casey's  l)oai-d  and  received 
a  pi'ovisional  coniniission  as  niajor,  but  was  never  given 
a  command. 

In  bSOCi  lie  was  elected  a    member  of   the   N<'w  Ilami) 


844  IIISTOUY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

shire  legislature  from  Warner  and  was  re-elected  in  1867. 
While  a  meml)er  oT  the  legislature  he  served  on  the 
.Itidiciary  Committee  and  was  active  and  influential  in 
s]i:i|iing  legislation.  lie  is  snid  to  have  been  the  first 
Democrat  in  the  state  to  make  a  speech  in  the  Legis- 
latiiie  in  favor  of  the  so-called  Floage  Act,  which  was 
adopted  largely  through  his  influence. 

Majoi-  Davis  has  always  been  active  in  furthering  the 
interests  of  his  adoi)te(l  town,  and  has  served  his  fellow 
citizens  in  almost  every  cai)acity.  lie  was  a  mend)er  of 
the  school  board  for  more  than  twenty  years,  and  for  a 
iiiiiiil)er  of  yeais  superinteiideid  of  the  Simonds'  High 
Scliool.  He  was  one  of  the  original  trustees  of  the 
Pillsl)iiry  Free  Lil)raiy  and  is  at  present  president  of 
the  board.  Some  four  yi^ais  ago  he  gave  up  the  active 
piactice  of  law,  but  is  often  called  upon  to  give  advice 
in  leual  matters. 


NEW     IIA  M  I'SIl  I  KK     \()IJ'NTi:i:i;s. 


845 


■^c/yu/anf  ^uf/icr  ZJ.    Tjouinsoncf. 


Adjutant  Luther  T.  Townsvnd,  1).  1).,  Iiisioiiaii  ol 
tli(^  Sixteciith  l^:'iiiiii('iit,  New  Hanip.sliirc  N'oliiiiteers, 
was  ])()rn  in  Oioiio,  Penobscot  coiiiity,  Maine,  September 
27,  1(S:]8.  His  early  e(lucatioii  was  received  in  the  ])iib>]ic 
schools  of  P>risto],  Manchester,  Fiankliii.  and  Lake 
Villag-e,  New  llani])sliii-e.  ]')y  the  dealli  of  his  lather 
he  was  thrown  ui)on  his  own  |-csoiirces,  and  at  tJie  ;iii,e 
of  twelve  found  employ iiiciit  on  a  railioad.  l^'oni*  yeai'S 
latei'  he  was  engaged  as  a  lii-eniati  on  a  locomotive,  and 
wliilc  at  thai  work  he  (hr'tei'inined  to  obtain  an  (education. 
He  litted  I'ui-  college  at  the  New    Hampshire  (!onferen(;e 


340  lIIsroKY    OF    THE    SIXTKExVTir    in^.GIMENT. 

Seminary,  TiUon,  N.  H.,  and  entered  Dartnionth  Col- 
lege in  1855,  where  lie  snpported  liimself  by  teaching 
dnring  vacations,  gradnating  with  honor  in  1851),  being 
a  member  of  tlie  Phi  Beta  Kappa  society. 

Fi'om  Dartnionth  he  went  to  the  Andover  Theological 
Seminary,  and  tinislied  a  three  years'  conrse  in  1802. 
From  Andover  Theological  Seminary  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  the  Sixteenth  llegiment,  was  commissioned 
adjntant,  and  served  nntil  mnstered  ont  with  the  regi- 
ment. 

He  was  not  oil'  duty  a  day  dnring  the  entire  cami)aign 
and  was  with  the  regiment  in  every  move  it  made.  He 
declined  a  proll'ered  colonelcy  just  before  leaving  Louis- 
iana, the  reason  for  tliis  declination  was  that  he  felt  that 
the  war  was  nearly  ovei'  and  that  he  ought  to  return  to  his 
])i-ofessional  work.  He  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  in 
1804,  and  in  1800  the  Wesleyan  Tniversity  conferred 
the  degi'ee  of  A.  M.,  and  Dartmouth  honored  him  with 
the  degree  of  D-  D.,  in  1871.  When  the  Concord  Theo- 
logical S(diool  was  removed  to  Boston  in  1808,  he  was 
chosen  to  hll  the  chairs  of  the  Hebiew  and  Creek  lan- 
guages. In  1870  he  was,  at  his  own  request,  transferi'ed  to 
the  chair  of  historic  theology,  and  in  1872  to  that  of  sacred 
rhetoric.  He  was  ai)})ointed  delegate  to  the  Ecumenical 
M.  E.  Conference,  London,  England,  in  1881,  and  the 
<lean  of  the  (diatau(iua  School  of  Theology  ]882-"85. 
lie  is  the  author  of  twent}-iive  hooks  and  treatises, 
among  them  being  ''Credo,'"  "  Swoi-d  and  CTai'ment," 
"  Lost  Foi'ever,"  "The  Arena  and  the  Throne,''  ''Fate 
(d'  Republics."  etc.,  etc.      He   has   been    editorially  con- 


NEW    JIA.MI'SIIIUK    VOUXTKEKS. 


347 


nected  witli  vni-ioris  daily,  weekly  and  niontlily  piiblica- 
tiou.s.  A  I'rci- ('()iin)]«:rino;  twenfy-five  years  as  jjrofessor 
in  Boston  riiivei'sity,  li<' i-csig-ned  in  1898for  the  purpose 
of  ])ursiiin,i;'  liN^raiy  woi-k.  in  connection  with  which  he 
has  been  j)astoi- ol  thf"  Monnt  N'ciiion  Place  Chuicli  in 
Baltimore,  Md.  Ills  )esi<lcnce  at  i)resent  is  Washington 
i).  (\.  wiicrc  lie  is  associate'  [)astor  of  Metropolitan  M. 
E.  Church  giving  most  of  his  time  however  at  })resent 
(181)7)  to  literary  work.  "  Evolntion  or  Creation,'' 
"The  stoiy  of  Jonah  in  the  Light  of  Highei-  (h'iticism," 
and  this  i-cgimcnta1  histoi'y.  are  the  work  of  the  i)ast 
veai-. 


848 


HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 


CAa/}J<j/n   J7?cu.    ST^a/za  9//.    97/a„/cj/. 


Chaplain  Rev.  Ralza  M.  Mauley  was  l)orii,  Jan- 
uary 10,  18'i2,  in  Dorset,  Benninufon  (^:)^nt3^  Vt. 
lie  lifted  for  college  at  Tioy  Conl'eience  Academy, 
]*oiiltney,  Vt.,  and  graduated  from  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity, 1S48.  lie  was  principal  of  (Tiammar  b^chool  in 
Randolph,  \'f.,  fiom  1848-52.  lie  was  editor  of  the  Ver- 
iiioni  CJirisf id n  M<\ss<'ii</(i\  Lsr)^-^?,  and  tea(dier  of  Nat- 
ural Science  and  Latin  in  Newl)ui-y  Seminary,  1857-'58. 
He  was  principal  of  Troy  Conference  Academy,  18r)8-'60, 
and  principal  of  New  Hampshire  Conference  Seminary, 
1S()0-'02.     He  was  chaplain  of  the  Sixteenth  New  Hamp- 


NEW     HAM  I'SII  I  KK    \()L  T  NTEEIIS.  349 

sliiri'  \'()liiiit<'e]s.  JSO::^-'!):),  and  clKiplaiii  of  Kiisl  I'liirf^d 
Stafes  Colored  (-avali'v  from  Jamiai'V,  18(54,  to  end  of 
the  AVar.  Mny,  ISC);"),  lie  was  a})i)oiiited  by  the  War 
T)e])aii  iiKMit  sii[)ei-i]it(Mideiit  of  schools  foi'  the  State  of 
\'iiuiiiia  ill  the  Freediiien's  J'lireau  and  served  in  that 
(•ajiacit y  live  years  until  the  dissolnrion  of  the  Hurean  in 
ISTO.  In  18()7.  he  foiindt'd  the  Ki(diniond.  \'a.,  Normal 
School  foi-  colored  youth  and  had  charue  of  tin-  same 
niitil  ISS4.  Diirinii'  most  of  that  })eri()d  he  was  a  mem- 
l)er  of  the  hoard  of  ahh-rmen  of  Richmond,  and  also  of 
the  city  board  of  education.  He  was  intiuential  in 
shaidnu-  I  lie  public  school  system  of  tliat  city  and  of  the 
Slate  of  \'iruinia.  In  all,  lie  gave  twenty  years  to 
education  in  the  south. 

In  bSS.-),  he  was  instnictoi'  in  WVllesley  (*ollege,  Wel- 
lesley.  Mass.  lie  held  llie  chair  of  Rhetoric  and  Knulish 
Com})osition  and  remained  in  AVellesley  until  ]8!)2,  when, 
on  account  of  im[)ain'(l  health,  he  i-esigned  and  souuht 
recuperation  in  Ncu'thern  (?eorgia.  The  ex})erinient  was 
unsuccessful.  In  181)5,  he  went  to  San  Diego,  California. 
Tliere  he  regained  his  health  and  is  at  present  engaged 
in  educational  woik,  as  a  menil)ei'  of  the  boai'd  of 
education  of  the  City  ol  San  Diego.  His  present  a(hlress 
js  C)'.]i)  Grant  Avejiue,  San  Piego,  (■alifi^inia. 


350  HISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 


0/-.    Tj/io/>ias  Sa/idorn. 


Dr.  Thonicis  Sanborn  was  l)()rii  in  Sanbornton,  N. 
II.,  September  2(5,  1811  ;  api)()iiite(l  surgeon  of  tlie 
Sixteenth  Regiment  November  4,  1862  ;  resigned  June 
D).  iSiuK  lie  was  tlie  son  of  ('lirist()})lier  Sanborn  and  a 
grandson  of  Di'.  Benaiali  Sanboiii,  an  eminent  physician 
lield  in  liigh  esteem  in  that  ])aiT  of  the  state,  and  a 
lineal  descendant  in  tlie  iifth  generation  of  Daniel  San- 
boi'n.  one  of  the  hrst  settlers  of  the  town.  His  early  life 
was  ])assed  at  home  attending  the  district  school,  with 
an  occasional  tei'm  at  the  village  academy.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  he  was  bereft  of  liis  father,  whose  life  \y^s  lost 


nVAX    HAMI'SHiKK    VOIJXTKEMS.  H51 

liy  drowiiiiiu',  l)ut  lie  remained  witli  liis  niotlwr  upon  the 
farm  Iniii'  or  five  years,  assuming  its  labors  and  aiding  in 
providing  for  the  faiuilv. 

Early  in  life  he  tunuMl  his  thoughts  to  medicine,  the 
profession  of  liis  grandsire,  wlio  had  oft<^n  ex])ressed  the 
wish  tliat  one  of  his  grandsons  might  choose  for  his  life- 
work  his  own  calling,  and  in  th<^  Spring  of  Is:):',  lie 
entered  the  office  of  Dv.  Thomas  P.  Hi]],  with  wliom  he 
studied  three  months,  and  attended  a  coui-se  of  lectures 
at  Brunswick,  Me.  The  succeeding  live  oi'  six  years  were 
devoted  to  other  affairs  ;  l)ut  in  1889,  he  resumed  his 
medical  studies  under  tlie  direction  of  his  brother-in  law 
Dr.  W.  H.  Hosmer  of  New  London  (now  of  Penacook), 
with  whom  he  remained  two  years,  in  the  meantime 
attending  two  courses  of  lectures  at  the  Dartmouth 
Medical  College.  He  was  sul)seqnently,  for  some  time 
under  the  patronage  and  instiuction  of  Dr.  Gilmaii  Kim- 
ball of  Lowell,  Mass.  He  received  his  medical  degree 
from  Dartmouth  in  1841,  and  commenced  practice  in 
Goshen,  where  he  remained  until  August,  1843,  when  he 
moved  to  Newport.  After  locating  in  this  town  Dr.  San- 
born availed  himself  of  lectures  and  hosjiital  ])ractice  at 
the  Bellvue  Medical  Institution  in  Xew  York  (Uty.  A 
successful  understanding  ami  management  of  the  cases 
that  came  under  his  care  and  liis  consi)icuous  skill  as  a 
surgeon  in  due  time  won  for  him  an  extended  and  i>roht- 
able  jiatronage  and  a  wide  celebrity.  In  view  of  greater 
proticiency  in  many  of  the  details  of  his  jn-ofessional 
work.  Dr.  Sanboiai,  in  bSH^,  crossed  the  Atlantic  and 
traveled  extensively  in  Kn^land,    Scotland,    France  and 


:^52  insTOKV    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEdlMENT 

Belginni.  Yisitino-  their  medical  scliools,  hospitals  and 
iiiuseums,  returning  to  his  home  and  friends  in  Newport 
with  an  increased  intelligence,  professionally  for  the 
l)enetit  of  his  patrons  and  that  enlarged  view  of  men  and 
thonglit  derived  from  foreign  travel. 

Aside  from  his  professional  standing,  he  was  a  public- 
spirited  and  leading  citizen  of  the  town  which  he  twice 
represented — 18.")7-'r)8 — in  the  state  legislature.  Dr. 
Sanborn  took  a  decided  stand  in  favor  of  the  Union  of 
States,  and  manifested  his  patriotism  in  deeds,  as  well  as 
words.  In  1868,  he  was  ap[)ointed  surgeon  of  the  Six- 
teenth Regim«^nt  New  Hampshire  A^olunteers,  and  served 
witii  distinction  in  the  Nineteenth  Army  Corps  in  Louis- 
iana. After  his  return  he  was  appointed  United  States 
Army  Surgeon  of  this  military  department.  He  was  a 
meml)er  of  the  New  Hamjtshire  Medical  Society,  the 
National  Medical  Association  and  the  Connecticut 
Medical  Society.  He  was  also  a  past  master  of  the  Mount 
A^ernon  Lodge  of  Masons. 

Dr.  Sanborn,  married  November  14,  1844,  Harriet,  a 
daughter  of  Hon.  David  Allen  of  Newport,  N.  H.  Their 
(diildren  were  Harriet  E..  born  Octol)er  3(»,  1845,  died 
August  1(3,  1864.  Mary  J.,  born  March  16,  1847:  died 
January  26,  1875  ;  graduated  at  South  Hadley,  Mass.  ; 
(nuii-ried  to  Rev.  Ueorge  Ide  of  Hopkinton,  Mass.  ; 
(diildren,  Carrie  S.,  born  June  2,  1872  ;  Charles  E.,  born 
January  22,  1874.)  Thomas  B.,  born  July  0,  1852  ;  died 
June  30,  1804.  (diristoi)her  Allen,  born  April  5,  1855;  mar- 
ried in  1885,  Mary  Branian  daughter  of  Hon.  Augustus 
Mudge  of  Danvers,  Mass.     Kate  A.,  born  March  18,  1867. 


NKW    IIAMPSHTRK    VOLFNTl^^KUs.  Ht)'6 

Dr.  Saiiboj-ii  was  a  tlioroiii;!!  scliolar,  a  iiKUi  ol"  tlie 
strictest  inte<>,-iity  and  possessed  a  remarkably  kind  and 
genial  disjtositioii.  lie  sonuht  no  [)lace  or  [)i-el'erinent, 
the  place  and  pi'efei'iiient  souiilit  him.  His  great 
expei'ienc.e,  general  I'eading  and  good  judgment  made 
him  a  safe  i)ractitioner  in  all  departments  of  liis  pro- 
fession, and  a.  wise  counseloi'  jirofessionall y  and  in 
general  affairs.  His  life  in  Newport  covei'ed  a  })eriod  of 
more  than  sixty  years.     His  death  occui-red  .Inly  23,  1875. 


:r)4 


IIIS'I'OKV    oV    THE    SIXTEKXTH    KE<;iMEXT 


First  Assistant  Surgeon  Cyrus  M.  Fisk  was  tlie 
eldest  son  of  E])hraini,  and  Maruaret  Pow  Fisk,  and 
was  l)()rn  in  Chicliester  N.  II.,  January  9,  1825. 
He  studied  medicine  in  (Jontoocook,  N.  II.,  with  the 
late  Charles  A.  Savory,  M.  I).,  and  took  his  degree  at 
Dartmouth  College  in  1847.  At  twenty-two  years  of  age 
he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1848  he 
married  Amanda  M.  Putnam,  and  removed  to  Bradford, 
N.  H.,  where  he  practiced  medicine  twenty-four  years. 
Here  his  fine  i)rofessiona]  skill  was  apj^reciated,  and  his 
high  X)t3rsonal  character   ])laced   him   among   the  leading 


NEW    IlA]\ri'SHIKE    VOLUKTEERS.  355 

men  of  the  town.  Tie  was  ap])ointed  First  Assistant 
Surgeon  of  the  Sixteentli  Regiment  New  Hampshire 
\'olunteers,  Noveml)er  4,  1862,  and  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  Surgeon,  June  18,  18(38.  Tie  was  mustered 
out  of  the  service  witli  tlie  regiment,  August  20,  18(38, 
returned  to  Bradford,  and  resumed  Tiis  practice. 

In  1872  lie  removed  to  Lowell,  Mass.,  where  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  early  instructor  Dr.  Savory  who 
had  located  in  Lowell,  several  years  earlier.  A  few 
years  later  Dr.  Savory  retired,  and  Dr.  I^^isk  continued 
the  practice  alone,  until  the  summer  of  1894.  He  tlien 
returned  to  Bi-adford  and  to  the  scenes  of  his  early  suc- 
cess, to  pass  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  a  well-earned 
retirement.  He  directed  the  construction  and  decoration 
of  a  new  home,  and  had  occupied  it  but  a  short  time, 
when  his  long  anticipated  peaceful  rest  among  those  he 
loved,  was  terminated  by  death  from  apoplexy  on 
January  21,  1895.  The  seventieth  milestone  on  life's 
journey  was  celebrated  by  visits  and  loving  expressions 
from  kindred  and  fi-iends  all  expecting  that  he  would  he 
permitted  to  enjoy  for  many  years,  the  new  home  and 
new  life  of  rest  so  happily  iM^gun. 

While  residing  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  Dr.  T^'isk's  superior 
professional  skill  was  recognized  by  preferment  in  the 
Massachusetts  Medical  Society,  Middlesex  North  Dis- 
ti-ict  Medical  Society,  and  as  a  member  of  the  Staff  of 
Saint  John's  Hospital,  and  Advisory  Physician  of  the 
Lowell  General  Hospital.  He  was  an  active  member 
of  Ladd  and  Whitney  Post  No.  185,  I)ei>artment  of 
Massacliusetts  U.   A.   P. 


366  }ii!^T()HY  OF  THE  sixtep:ntii  regiment 

Second  Assistant  Snrgeon  Sy^lvester  Cnmphell, 
son  of  Horace  nnd  Sally  Grant  Campbell,  was  born  in 
Aoworth,  N.  H.,  Februar}-  9,  1S:U. 

He  bad  bis  bonie  at  different  times  in  Newport,  N.  H., 
New  York  City,  ;ind  Sanbornton  Bridge,  now  Tilton, 
N.  H.  He  titted  I'oi-  colle^iie  at  New  London,  N.  IL, 
i;radiiated  at  Dartmoiitb  and  at  tlie  New  York  University. 

He  was  ai)[)ointed  second  assistant  snrgeon  of  tbe 
Sixteentli  Regiment,  on  November  (5,  18(t2,  and  died  at 
Carrollton,  La.,  Febrnary  6,  1808.      [See  page  66. J 

Second  Assistant  Surgeon  Hubert  Sleeper,  born  in 
Grnntliani  N.  H.  ;  a})pointed  March  18,  ISiVA  :  age,  28; 
taken  prisoner  June  28,  iyA')'.]\  parolled  ;  discharged 
to  (bite  August  20.  bs68  ;     P.  O.  address  Meriden,  N.  H. 

Quartermaster  Albert  H.  Drown,  born,  Rehoboth, 
Mass.  ;  appointed  ()ctol)er  8,  1862  ;  age,  38  ;  discharged 
to  date  August  20,  1863;  P.  O.  address  Newtonville, 
Mass. 

Sergeant- Major  Frank  B.  Modica  was  born  in 
Boston,  Mass.  ;  May  30.  1843  ;  he  left  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege and  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Sixteenth  Regiment 
New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  September  3,  1862.  He 
was  appointed  sergeant-majoi"  Novembei'  22,  1862,  and 
second  lieutenant  of  Company  F,  March  18,  1863.  Was 
discharged  to  date  Angust  20,  1863.  After  he  had  suffi- 
ciently recovered  his  liealth  to  resuuie  his  studies  he 
returned  to  Darhuouth  College  graduating  in  the  class 
of  1865.  He  located  in  Chicago,  111.,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  business  until  1871.  when  he  went  to  South 
America.     He  constructed   the  Cauca    \'alley  Railroad. 


NEW    HAM  I'SIl  I  i:k    \  olintkers. 


B57 


Serffcn)if-'7//ayor  J^ran/c  .55*.    '?//oc/icci. 

Diuing-  his  stay  in  Poi)ayaii,  the  capital  of  the  state  of 
Cauca,  United  ^>tates  of  Colombia,  he  became  acquainted 
with  the  Senorita  Dellina  l*'eriiandes  Diago,  whom  he 
afterwards  married  in  Bogota,  the  capital  city.  After 
niairiage  Mi',  and  Mrs.  Modica  letiiriKMl  to  the  United 
States,  locating  in  Hennikei',  N.  IT.  During  their  resi- 
dence in  Ijcnniker,  Mi'.  Modica  made  several  l)usiness 
tri})s  to  South  Ain<'iica.  Ehnen  years  ago  he  returned 
to  Chicago,  where  they  now  leside.  They  have  live 
chihhcn,  Francis  ]>.,  Isabel,  r)eatiis,  L^onai'd  and  Ralph. 
P.  O.  address  1442  Cornelia  Avenue,  Chicago,  111. 


B.^8  insTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Quartermaster- Sergeant  George  M.  Wilkins,  born, 
Henniker,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  October  13,  1862  :  age,  29  ; 
appointed  second  lientenant  of  Company  K  A])ril  2o, 
1868;    not  mustered  ;    died  Anii'nst   26,    1868,   Bellel'on- 

taiiie,  Oliio. 

Commissary-Sergeant  David  D.  Smith,  born.  New 
York;  enlisted  September  IT),  1862  ;  age,  28  ;  mnstered 
ont  August  20,  1863  ;  P.  O.  address  1629  Walnnt  street, 
Philadelphia.  Pa. 

Hospital  Steward  Paul  S.  Adams,  born,  Berwick, 
]\raine  ;  enlisted  Septend)er  8,  1862  ;  age,  44  ;  discharged 
July  24,  bS63  ;     died  October  21,  1886,   Newport,   N.  H. 

Sutler  E.  A.  Crawford;    P.  O.  address  Dover,  N.  H. 

BAND. 

(See  Company  Roster.  ) 

Director  Marcine  H.  Wliitcomb,  Co.  C. 

Drum  Major  Edward  Nettleton,  Co.  H. 
Dexter  \V.  Allen,  Comp.  H.     Moses  Hoyt,  Comp.  F. 

Richard  W.  Allen,    '^      D.     Wm.  S.  Moses,           "  A. 

Henry  W.  Badger,    "      H.     Artlmr  H.  Ingram,     "  B. 

Clinton  Bohonan,      "       C.     Freeman  W.  Nourse,"  F. 

TrnmanC.  Cutting,   ^'       E.     Wallace  L.  Reed,       "  I. 

AVni.R.  Dimond,        "       E.      Alfred  D.  Stark,         "  A. 

Wm.  II.  Flandeis,     ''      D.     Charles  C.  Webber,   ^'  E. 

Nath'l  S.  Gardner,     '•       G.      Richard  A.  Webl)er,"  B. 

J.  Wood  Hastings,    •'       C.     Chas.  D.  Worcester,  ^'  F. 
Henry  E.  Young,  Co.  G. 


^y 


ROSTER  OF   COMPANY  A. 


Capfai'n  £//as  -^.    tJ/ri/V/i. 

Captain  Julias  F.  Smith  was  born  in  Plainlicld,  N.  II., 
and  was  twenty-six  years  of  au'e  when  lie  was  commis- 
sioned ('ai)tain  of  Company  A,  Sixteenth  Ilegiment.  He 
prepared  for  colle^eat  l\ind»all  Tnion  Academy  and  New 
London,  and  enteied  Noi'wicli  I'nivei'sity.  While  in  liis 
fonrtli  yeai'  at  tliat  institution  September  IS.  ISO'i,  he 
enlisted  sei-vini;-  as  captain  of  Company  A,  iiiilil  mustered 
out  Auo-nst  20,  ]S()3. 

lie  raised  Company  B,  Ki.u'hteentli  Reo-iment  in  one 
week,  Avas  commissioiu'(l    its  cajitain    sei-viuii'    until    the 


860  IIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

close  of  tlie  war.  He  has  in  his  possession  a  eommission 
as  colonel  of  the  Eighteenth  Regiment  Init  was  not 
mnstered. 

Captain  Sniitli  \vas  nipasiii  al)l y  serving  the  conntry  in 
military  matters  fi-oni  the  beginning  of  the  war  until  its 
close.  He  was  recruiting  officer  and  diillmaster  for  one 
company  each,  of  the  Fifth,  Seventli.  Ninth  and  Foni-- 
teentli,  going  into  camp  with  eatdi.  After  the  war  Ca])- 
tain  Smith  returned  to  Lebanon  wliere  he  was  largely 
engaged  in  real  estate  ti'ansactions,  and  still  owns  con- 
siderable ]»r()perty  thei'e.  A  ft(M'  (piite  extt^'usive  ti-avels, 
he  located,  in  llochester,  N.  11.,  ami  assumed  an  interest 
in  a  UKinutactnring  establislimeiit.  aftei-wards  l)econnng 
sole  ]>ropriet0]'.  (^a])taiu  Suiitli  was  lo\ed  by  those  AAdio 
served  with  him,  aud  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who 
know  him. 

First  Lieutenant  Bela  Sawyer,  born.  Oiford,  X.  H. ; 
enlisted  Septendjei'  1,  1802  ;  age,  8(S  ;  appointed  fii'st 
lientenant,  November  4,  1802;  nrustered  out  August  20, 
1808;  P.  ().  address  Lyme,  N.  IL 

Second  Lieutenant  Charles  S.  Cooper,  boin,  Harre, 
Mass.;  enlisted  Se])teml)er,  1802;  age,  22;  a})pointed 
second  lieutemiut,  No\end)er  4,  1802:  mustered  out 
August  20,  ]8()8. 


NEW    TIAM]'snii;K    NOLFNTEEKS. 


:!(') 


^I'rsf  tScrr/eanf  ,jC umnn  ^'.    ^Jroo^s. 


First  Sergeant  Luimin  F.  Brooks  was  boni  in  llaii- 
ovei',  X.  H.,  NovHiiibcr  !2,  ISoO.  1 1  is  fatlipr  was  Jei-e- 
iiiiali  l)i'(>()l\S  and  of  Scotcli  descent.  His  iiiotlier 
was  Oris  Miner,  of  Knii,-lis]i  descent,  and  in  direct 
line  i'roni  Henry  BuUman,  who  armed  and  tendered 
to  King  Edwai'd  ITT,  one  liundi'ed  men  on  his  fourth  ex- 
])edition  into  France.  Foi-  tliis  lie  Avas  Knighted  and 
given  the  name  of  Sir  lleiiiy  Miner,  with  a  coat-of-arms. 

At  the  age  of  eleven  oui'  comrade  found  liimself  at 
Enfield,  N.  II. .with  that  se(dusiv(%  [)ecnliar  and  intensely 
religious  people  known  as  the  Shakers  where  he  became 


302  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KE(4IMENT 

disciplined  to  good  habits  and  was  tanglit  his  first  lessons 
in  theology. 

He  taught  the  District  school  there  for  six  years,  and 
at  the  age  of  twenty  cancelled  his  connection  witli  the 
society  and  was  paid  for  his  nine  years  service  the  sum 
of  fifty  dollai's.  For  thi'ee  years  following  he  was  con- 
nected with  sevei'al  I'ailroads  in  ?»ila.ssaclnisetts,  sub- 
sequently making  his  home  in  Lel)aiion,  iS\  H..  wliere  he 
now  resides. 

()n  the  call  for  ti-oojis  m  18()2  he  was  instrumental  in 
tilling  the  quota  allotted  to  Lebamci,  and  was  mustered 
in  as  iirst  sergeant.  Following  the  fortunes  of  the  regi- 
ment, lie  participated  intheearly  advance  on  Port  Hud- 
son and  was  in  that  malarial  death  trap  at  Hutte  a  la 
liose.  He  was  present  July  2,  ]8()2,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  the  tight  at  Springfield  Landing.  He  was 
one  of  several  men  who  claimed  the  exclusive  honor  of 
shooting  the  Confederate  officer,  Stone,  who  seemed  to  be 
killed  outright  ''  but  who  afterwards  jumped  up  and 
ran  away."" 

As  soon  as  dischaiged  from  the  Sixteenth  in  August, 
1863,  he  was  commissioned  captain  and  was  mustered  in 
to  the  Third  Regiment  Corps  de  Afrique  (later  Seventy- 
Fifth  United  States  Colored  Troops)  at  Port  Hudson,  La. 
He  was  in  the  Ped  Piver  Campaign  and  returned  to 
Morgansia  Bend  in  the  summer  of  ]8(i4,  where  he  was 
commissioned  major  and  afterwards  litul  (diarge  of  build- 
ing the  winter  (Quarters  iirside  the  foi't  at  that  [dace.  In 
the  Slimmer  of  ISn;")  his  regiment  protected  the  railroad 
from  New  Orleans  to  P)iashear  City.     He  was  for  several 


NKW     IIAMI'SIIIKK    VOLTNTEKKS.  H()3 

weelvs    oil    coiii-ts    martial    at    Tliil)a(leaii,     Louisiana. 

Beiiiij,- tlie  laiikiiig"  officer  i)resent,  lie  was  in  coiiimaiid  of 
the  re.u'iinent  at  MilliktMi's  I^eiid  in  Sei)teniber,  ISC),"),  and 
at  otlit-r  places,  and  was  iiiustci't'd  out  at  New  ( )i-l('ans  with 
the  regiment  in  Novend)er.  Since  the  (dose  of  the  wai'. 
as  he  writes,  "  my  life  has  heen  nneventfiil." 

Second  Sergeant  Fred.  B.  Palmer,  born,  Oiford.  X. 
H.;  enlist^'d  Septembei'  If),  18()2  ;  age,  85;  mustered  out 
August  20,  18()8  ;  died  May  14.   181)5,  Lyme,  N.  H. 

Third  Sergeant  Horace  B.  Welhnan,  boiii,  Coiiiisli, 
X.  I!.;  enlisted  August  iJO,  ]8()2;  age,  :2]  ;  mustered  out 
August  20,  bSClJ  ;  1>.  ().  address  :5;]8  Eightli  avenue.  New 
Yoi'k,  N.  Y. 


364  HISTOllY     OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 


Fourth  Sergeant  Osenr  W.  Baldwin  was  horn.  .lune 
f),  1S4(),  in  Jniiiaica,  \'t.  AVlien  ten  years  of  age  his 
parents  moved  to  Chester,  Yt.  Yonng-  Bahhvin  entered 
Kimball  Union  Academy,  ]\[ei'iden,  N.  H.,  September, 
1801,  with  tlie  intention  of  fitting  for  college.  AVhile 
a  student  there  he  enlisted  Septeml)ei'  10,  1802;  joined 
the  Sixteenth  and  was  witli  it  in  all  its  service.  He  Avas 
ai)p()inted  foiiith  sergeant  in  Company  A,  and  served 
in  that  capacity  until  mustered  out.  He  was  a  faithful 
and  brave  soldiei',  perfectly  reliable  In  eyery  i)osition 
assigned  him. 


NEAV     II  AM  I'SII  I  KK    \  ( »  M  '  NTKEKS.  805 

A  I'ter  his  refiini  ]i(^  lesumed,  for  avvliilc  liis  studies, 
l)iit  I'oiiikI  that  liis  hcaltli  had  been  too  iiiii(di  shatteivd 
to  enter  siic(;essful]y  at  tliat  time  iii)oii  a  })i()r<'ssioiial 
coiii'se  of  study.  He  lias  l)eeii  engaged  in  a  piotitalih' 
mercantile  Inisine.ss  for  al)ont  twenty-iive  yeais.  Ih^  is 
at  |)i'esent  chairnuin  of  the  l)oard  of  selectmen  in  J^eba- 
non.  He  has  been  foi-  many  years  a  devoted  workei'  in 
the  (Irand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  was  (diaiiauan  of 
the  building  committet-  of  (uir  regiment,  through  wliose 
labors  th<'  Sixteenth  now  has  free  from  debt  their  beau- 
tifully located  and  commodious  regimental  home  at  the 
"  \^^3irs,'''  New  TIani})shi]*e. 

In  acknowledgment  of  his  services  he  was  })resented 
by  his  comrades,  at  one  of  their  annual  gatherings,  a 
solid  ebonv,  golddieaded  cane. 


866  iiisT()i:y  of  the  sixteenth  i;egiment 


^tYt/i  tScrycan/  C/iar/cs  C    Ocavcj/. 


Fifth  Sergennt  Charles  C.  Scnvey,  of  Company 
A,  was  l)(>rii  in  Mooivs,  Clinton  (^onnty,  New  York, 
Febrnary  1(>,  1881),  and  niov(^(l  to  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  in 
1856.  He  enlisted  A])]il  '24.  1S(U .  in  Conijiany  K, 
First  Regiment,  New  TIampsliii'e  A'olunteers  and  served 
until  mustered  out  August  1),  18(')1.  He  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 8,  J8()2.  in  Company  A,  Sixteenth  Regiment  and 
was  appointed  fifth  sergeant.  He  served  with  Company 
A  until  (liscli;irg(-d,  August  2(K  ISOH.  He  married  Miss 
Nettie  L.  DeWitt  of  llanov.M'.  N  H.,  August  2<),  1866, 
and  removed  to  his  native  state.     He  is  a  eal)inet  maker 


NKW    HAM  I'SIIIKIO    VOUNTEEKS.  S67' 

by  trade  bill  :ibaii(b)iu'(l  if  l)e('ause  of  ill  licalfh.  He 
now  lives  on  a  i'aiiii  at  SI.  Regis  Falls,  Franklin  County, 
New  York. 

First  Corporal  John  H.  Derby,  born,  Lyme,  N.  II., 
enlisted  Septenibei-  If),  1S()2  ;  age.  80;  mustered  out 
Angust  20,  1808  ;  P.  ().  address  Lyme  Gentei',  N.  H. 

Second  Corpornl  George  L.  Worthington,  l)orn, 
Tecuniselj,  Mich.  ;  enlisted  Sei)teinl)er  9,  1802;  age,  25; 
mustered  out  August  20,  1803  ;  P.  O.  address  Brooklyn, 
Mich. 

Third  Corporal  Rnnsoin  Griggs,  hovn,  liutland,  \  t.; 
enlisted  September  f),  1802  ;  age,  81  ;  dischai'ged  to  date 
August  20,  1808  ;  dead  ;   date  and  place  unknown. 

Fourth  Corporal  Daniel  C.  Dacey,  [spelled  Dasey  in 
Adj.  Gen's  report]  born,  Bandon,  Ireland  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 8,  1802  ;  age,  20  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1803  ; 
volunteered  in  "  storming  party ''  at  Port  Hudson,  La., 
under  General  Order  No.  49. 

Fifth  Corporal  Lewis  K.  Davison,  born,  Lyme,  N.H.; 
enlisted  September  l.'^,  1802  ;  age,  89  ;  discharged  to  date 
August  20,  1803  ;  died  November  12,  189,5,  at  Pei-kins- 
ville,  Vt. 

Sixth  Corporal  Ransom  Urocklehank,  [Brottlebank 
on  muster-in  roster]  born,  Plainlield,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember lo,  18(»2  ;  age,  48);  died.Iune  14,  18(53,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Seventh  Corporal  Edwin  Chandler,  born,  Lebanon, 
N.  IL;  enlisted  Sei)tembei-  ('),  J 802;  age,  29;  mustered 
out  August  20,  1808;   P.  ().  address  Lebanon,  N.  II. 


:\{')S  IIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    UEGIMENT 

Highth  Corporal  Harvey  B.  Kimhall,  born,  Leba- 
non, N.  11.  ;  enlisted  Se])tenil)er  2,  1802;  age,  20;  nnis- 
tered  ont  Angnst  20,  J  8(58  ;  P.  O.  address  50  Moore  street, 
West  Somerville,  Mass. 

Musician  Benjamin  W.  Chapman,  l)orn,  Plainfield, 
N.  11.  ;  enlisted  September  11,  1802;  age,  41  ;  died 
Angnst  f),  1808,  near  Yicksbnrg,  Miss. 

Musician Alonzo Stark,  l)orn,  Ellsworth,  Me.;  enlisted 
October  27,  1802  ;  age,  27  ;  died  Jnne  10,  1808,  at  New 
Orleans.  La. 

Wagoner  George  H.  I^merson,  born,  Chelsea,  Yt.  ; 
enlisted  September  10,  1802  ;  age,  28  ;  nmstered  ont 
Angnst   20,  1808;    died  Angnst  2o,  1880,  Concord  N.  H. 

PRIVATES. 

Cliarles  J.  Allen,  born,  Albany,  Yt.  ;  enlisted  Sei)tem- 
ber  IT),  18(52  ;  age,  28  ;  died  Jnne  7,  1808,  at  New  Orleans, 
La. 

Charles  M.  Avery,  born,  Yershire,  V^t.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 5,  18(52;  age,  10;  tiansferi'ed  from  Company  K, 
January  1,  18(58  ;  mustered  ont  August  20,  1808;  P.  O. 
address  Corinth.  \  t. 

Charles  Baker,  born,  Morristown.  Yt.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)ei-  18.  18(52;  age,  8(5;  died  Jnne  17.  18(58,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Prancis  H.  Baker,  born,  Lyme,  N.  11.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 1.").  18(52  ;  age,  27  ;  mnstei'ed  out  August  20,  1808  ; 
died  May  2.-),  1882.  at  Lebanon.  N.  TL 

Orvil  Barker,  boi-n  Windsor.  \\.  ;  enlisted  Septem- 
bei'  L  bS(;2  ;  age,  88;  mnsrei'ed  out  August  20,  18(58; 
died  July  I  I.  1808,  at  Meriden,  N.  H. 


NEW    HAM  I'SII  IKK    VoLTXTEEKS.  '.UV.) 

Samuel  H.  Bnvnnrd  \  IJcniaid  in  Adj.  (leifs  I'eport] 
l)()ni,  Barnai'd.  \'t.,  ♦Milistt'd  Se[)te]Tibei'  10,  18()2  ;  n^<%  "2'.\  ; 
mustered  out  Au.nusl  'io,  ISi;:);  P.O.  address  Wind- 
sor, Yt. 

Hlhridge  G.  Beers,  l)()iii  Ilartlaud,  Vt.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 9,  18(52  ;  a,<;v,  ;U  ;  mustered  out  August  2(),  18G8  ; 
P.  O.  Address  Meriden,  N.    II. 

Lewis  Biathrow,  Jr.,  born,  l^radford,  \'t.  ;  enlisted 
September  15,  18G2  ;  age,  2:^  ;  died  June  T),  I8(;:^,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

George  F.  Chase,  born,  Lyme,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember IT),  18()2  ;  age,  11);  discdiai'gcd  January  Ki,  b8(53. 
New  Orleans,  La.  ;  died,  .lanuary  4,  18i)4,  at  Lyme,  N.  H. 

Byron  O.  Cheney,  \  liyion  (Uieney  on  must<:'r-in  rostei'] 
born,  Plaintield,  X.  II.;  enlisted  September  IJ,  1802; 
age,  11)  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ;  died  in  Wor- 
cester, Mass.,  date  not  known. 

George  W.  Clark,  born,  Lyme,  N.  XL;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 15.  1862  ;  age,  25  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  P.   O.   address  Springfield,  N.  H. 

Benjamin  Cline,  born,  Lyme,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
teml)er  15,  bS(;2  ;  age,  25;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;   P.  O.  address  Lyme,  N.  II. 

Freeman  J.  Converse,  born,  Lyme,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted 
Sei)tember  15,  I8()2  ;  age.  22;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1803;   died  I)ecend).'i- 23,    |S0:5.  af   Lyme,  N.   II. 

Norman  D.  Comings,  born,  ("ornisli,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  21),  18r)2  ;  age,  20;  died  August  14,  1803, 
iMound  Citv,  111. 


o7()  HISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEEXTII    3JKGIMENT 

Joseph  B.  Cutler,  l)()rn,  Plainlield,  X.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  18,  18(3-2  ;  nge,  39  ;  died  June  21,  18G3,  at 
New  Orleans,  La. 

Pliylander  C.  Cutting,  born,  Lyme,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  13,  18G2  ;  age,  2()  ;  mustered  out  Angnst  20, 
1863.     Dead  ;    date  and  place  unknown. 

Charles  C.  Daniels,  born,  Plainlield,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  12.  1862  ;  age,  ^S  :  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;   V.  ().  address  Deer  Isle,  Maine. 

George  W-  BUis,  born,  Brandon.  \^t.  ;  enlisted  Se})- 
tember  3,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863; 
died,  December  26,  1878,  South  Adams,  Mass. 

Seneca  Ellis,  born  at  sea  ;  enlisted  September  2,  1862  ; 
age,  45  ;  musterd  out  August  20,  1863;  died,  August  26, 
1863,  at  Cornish,  N.  H. 

Charles  H.  Hnierson,  born,  Chelsea,  \t.  ;  enlisted 
September  10,  1862  ;  age,  23  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  P.  O.  address  West  Lebanon,  N.  H. 

George  W.  French,  born,  Plainlield,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  13,  1862  ;  age,  23  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  P.  O.  address  Meriden,  N.  H. 

Story  W.  Gates,  [Storj-  IT.  Gates  in  Adj.  (reu's  re- 
port] boin,  Lel)an()n,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  September  10,  1862; 
age,  b"^;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863;  P.  ().  address 
Portsmouth,  N.  H. 

Phineas  P.  Gilbert,  boi-n.  Lyme,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Septend)ei'  If),  1862  ;  age,  3;]  ;  discharged  to  date  August 
20,  1863  ;  died  August  2U,  1863,  at  Lyme,  N.  H. 


NKW     HAM  I'SIIIKK    XOLINTKEUS.  371 

Asn  F.  Gordon,  boiii,  Dorchestei',  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  i:!,  IS(;2;  :ige,  21;  died  May  25,  ]8():->,  at 
Brasliear  City,  La. 

Truman  N.  GrnVy  [Grey  in  Adj.  (^mi\s  re]«»rt]  l)()ni, 
Sheffield.  \'t.  :  enlisted  Sei.tend)er  12,  18(')2;  a.i^-e,  :58 ; 
discliar,i^-ed   April   28,    ISOH,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Roswell  P.  Griffin,  [l^oswell  Griffin  in  Adj.  Gen's  re- 
port] l)orn,  Lebanon,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted  Septend:)er  10, 
1802;  age,  22;  mnstered  ont  Angnst  20,  1803  ;  P.  O  ad- 
dress Fryebiirg,  Me. 

Alanson  Hndley,  l)()rn,  Cohunbia,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  18,  1862;  age,  88;  ti-ansferred  from  Company 
K  Jannary  1,  18(53;  mnstered  ont  Angnst20,  1803;  died 
Angnst  27,  1803,  Plainiield,  N.  II. 

Charles  Harrington,  l)orn,  Plainiield,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  9,  1802  ;  age,  8,-)  ;  discharged  to  date  Angnst 
20,  1863  ;  died  Jnne  6,  1897,  at  East  Plainiield,  N.  H. 

William  H.  Horton,  boin,  Barnard,  Yt.  ;  enlisted 
Sex^tember  5,  1862  ;  age,  21  ;  mnstered  ont  Angnst  20, 
1803;  P.  O.  address,  Piermont  N.  H. 

Mdwin  R.  Houston,  l)orn,  Bath,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)er  8,  18()2  ;  age,  31  ;  died  May  o,  180)8,  at  Brasliear 
City,  La. 

John  L.  Howard,  l)()rn.  Orl'oid,  N.  IT.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember If),  180)2  ;  age,  21  ;  discliai'ged  to  date  Angnst  20, 
1863;  died  Angnst  24,   bS(;8,  at  Orl'ord,  N.  H. 

Hazen  K.  Hutchins,  boin,  Andovei',  Maine;  enlisted 
Septend)er  8.  1802;  age,  42  ;  mnstered  ont  Angnst  20, 
1868;   P.  ().  addi-ess  IIanov<M-.  N.  IT. 


;^72  HISTOIJV    OF    TUK    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Hmcn  P.  Hutchins,  honi,  Sutton,  N.  11.  ;  enlisted 
September  H,  ISO'i  ;  iii-e,  IS  :  discliarg-ed  to  date  August 
20,  1808;  died  January  2S.   IcSOT,  at  Hanover,  X.  H. 

Ira  A.  Johnson,  horn,  (xrantliani,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September*,),  1^02;  age,  ^39;  died  August  4,  1863,  near 
AMcksl)iirg.  Miss. 

Jnson  F.  Johnston,  boiii,  Lel)anon,  N.  IT.  ;  enlisted 
Septend)er  10,  18()2  ;  age,  18  ;  discharged  to  date  August 
20,  1808;    P.  ().  address  East  Plainfield,  N.  11. 

John  S.  Jordan,  born,  Maucliestei-,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Septend)ei'  0,  KSG2  ;  age,  18;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1808;   P.  O.  address  Plainiield,  X    II. 

George  W.  Kelley,  born,  Newport,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Septend)er  0,  1802;  age,  27;  mustered  out  August  20, 
180)8;   P.  ().  address  Lebanon,  N.  11. 

John  M.  KcUey,  born,  Rumney,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember IT),  1802  ;  age,  21  ;  discharged  to  date  August  20, 
1808)  ;   P.  ().  address  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

Henrys  Lenvitt,  born,  Cornish,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 2,  1802  ;  age.  22  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ; 
P.  O.  address  Ayer,  jStass. 

Tlionicis  Mnnchester,  born,  Charleston,  A't.  ;  enlisted 
Septembei-  4,  1802;  age,  88;  niustei'ed  out  August  20, 
1808;   P.  ().  a(bliess  Lebanon.   N.   II. 

George  P.  Martin,  boiai.  I'nderliill.  Vt.;  eidisted  Sep- 
tetnbpi- ,-).  1802;  ag<'.  b"^  :  miistei-ed  out  August  20,  1868; 
P.  ().  addi'ess8i  (b'oigc  Sti'eet.   I bii'li ngt on.  \'t. 

Webster  J.  Martin,  born,  llaiuiver.  X.  II.  ;  enlisted 
Septendx'i'  I  I.  IS(;2  :  age,  11)  ;  discharged  to  date  August 
20,   [808;    !'.  ().  address  Kniield.   N.   II. 


NEW    IIAMPSIIIKK    VOM'NTEKIIS.  ^)7'^ 

Albert  Miller,  boni,  Sliiiion,  V  t.  ;  enlisted  Septeinl)ei' 
10,  18(32;  Mii-e,  20;  iiiiisfei-ed  out  Aii.iiiist  20,  18()8  ;  P.  (). 
address  Lel)an()]i,  N.  H. 

Carlos  H.  M77/er,  lM)in,  Sliaioii,  Vt.;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 12,  1802;  age,  22;  nmsteivd  out  August  20,  18('.H  ; 
died  Novenil)er  18,  187(),  l^^allai'dvale,  Mass. 

Henry  Miller,  l)orn.  New  York  ;  enlisted  Septend)er 
10,  1802;  age,  2/);  mnstered  out  August  20,  180;];  died 
May  11),  1880  at  North  wood,  N.  H. 

Joseph  Moore,  born.  Concord,  N.  IT.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tenil)er  If),  18()2  ;  age,  24;  discliarged  to  date  August  20, 
1808;  died  August  21,  180H  at  (Concord,  N.  II. 

Elias  S.  Moores,  l)orn,  Plainiield,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
Septembei'  10,  18(52;  age,  27;  ti'ansferi-ed  from  ('o.  K 
January  1,  1808  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1808  ;  died 
in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  since  the  war. 

William  S.  Moses,  born,  Alexandria,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted 
i^epteml)er  0,  1802  ;  age,  24  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  P.  O.  address   170  Broadway,   New   York,   N.  Y. 

Joseph  S.  Newell,  born,  Ripton,  \^t.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 2,  1802  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1808  ; 
P.  ().  address  Torrington,  Conn. 

Frank  Norton,  l)orn,  Stralt'ord,  \'t.;  enlisted  September 
0,  180)2  ;  age,  28  ;  died  August  18,  1808,  at  Mound  City,  111. 

Alphomo  Palmer,  l)oru,  Orford,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)er  18,  18(;2;  age.  18;  died  August  0,  1808,  near 
AMcksbui'g,  Miss. 

Josiah  C.Pelton,  boin.  Plymouth,  \'t.  ;  t'ulisted  Sep- 
tcmbei',  IT),  bS()2  ;  age,  81;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868:    P.  ().  address  Lyme  Center,  N.  H. 


374  UTSTOUV    OF    THE    SIXTEP:NTH    KE<4iMENT 

Sninner  T.  Pierce,  bom,  Plainlield,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September'.),  1802;  age,  29;  mustered  out  August  20. 
ISm  ;  P.  O.  address  Windsor,  Yt. 

John  Poole,  boin.  Plainlield,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 10.  1862;  age,  85;  ti-ansferied  from  Comi)any  K 
January  1,  1808;  discharged  to  date  August  20.  1808; 
died  Plainlield,  N.  IT.,  18y(). 

Frank  B.  Porter,  ])orn,  Canaan,  N.  H.  ;  eidisted  Sep- 
tember 1."),  1802;  age,  19;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863; 
died  September  13,  1803,  at  Lyme,  N.  H. 

Austin  C.  Ramsey,  born,  Piermont,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  15,  1862  ;  age,  27  ;  died  August  18,  1863,  at 
Concord,  N.  H. 

James  Richardson,  born,  Corintli,  \t.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 6,  1862  ;  age,  39  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ; 
P.  O.  address  513  Chestnut  Street,  Manchester,  N.  H. 

John  P.  Rush,  born,  Piermont,  N.  11.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 5,  1862  ;  age,  24  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ; 
P.  O.  address  Enfield,  N.  H. 

Orlando  Sargent,  born,  AVoodstock,  Vt.  ;  enlisted 
September  17,  1862  ;  age,  28  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863;  P.  O.  address  Hillsborough  Bridge,  N.  H. 

David  S.  Shattuck,  born,  Dorchester,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  8,  1862  ;  age,  19  ;  transferred  from  Company 
K,  January  1.  1808  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ;  died 
July  12,  18()4,  at  Lyme,  N.  H. 

Enoch  P.  Smith,  born,  Baymond,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Sei)tend)er  5,  1862;  age,  38;  transferred  from  Company 
K,  January  1,  1808;  die'd  July  20,  1808,  at  New  Orleans, 
La. 


NEW    IlAMPSlIIin-:    VOLUNTEEllS.  375 

John  H.  Smith,  born,  Lyme,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Septeni- 
bei- 13,  18()2  ;  :ige,  44;  mustered  out  August  20,  ]8()3; 
P.  O.  address  Oregon,  111. 

Lucien  L-  Spnuldiug,  born,  Oornisli,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
August  18,  18(52;  age,  18;  discliai'ged  to  date  August 
20,  1868;   P.  O.  address  Cornisli,  N.  If. 

Silas  S.  Spaiilding,  [Silas  Spaulding  in  Adj.  (xen's 
re])ort]  born.  Peru,  Mass.;  enlisted  September  2,  1802; 
age.  88  ;  discharged  to  date  August  20,  18(38  ;  died  Sep- 
tendier20,  1868,  at  Cornish,  N.  H. 

Alfred  D.  Stark,  born,  Ho])kinton,  N.  Y.  ;  enlisted 
Se])tendier  15,  18(12;  age,  84;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1808  ;  P.  O.  address  Mantdiester,  N.  II. 

Alonzo  Stark,  born,  Ellswortli,  Maine  ;  enlisted  Oct- 
ober 27,  18(52;  aged.  27;  died  June  1(;5,  18(58,  at  New 
Orleans.  La. 

Ireniis  Stark,  born  Hanover,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 15,  18(52  ;  age,  21  ;  died  June  8,  1868,  at  Prashear 
City,  La. 

Duty  C.  Stickney,  born  Plaintield.  N.  Tl.  ;  enlisted 
September  13,  18G2  ;  age,  24;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  P.  O.  address  Enfield,  N.  H. 

lAicius  C.  Stone,  born,  Plaintield,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  18,  1862  ;  age,  21  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  died  Marcdi  25,  18i)5,  at  Plaintield,  N.  H. 

Luther  S.  Stone,  born,  Plaintield,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 13,  18(32  ;  age,  18  ;  died  July  7,  1863,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

George  Sweet,  boiii.  Colund)ia,  N.  11.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember I),    18(52  ;  age,  82  ;    transferred  from  (-ompauy   K 


876  IIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

January  1,  1SC3  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ;  P.  O. 
address  (\)rnish  Flat,  N.  H. 

Kendall  H.  Thomas,  boi-n,  Medford,  Mass.  ;  enlisted 
Se])teuil)er  2,  1862  ;  age,  10  ;  transl'eiTed  from  Co.  K 
,I:iiiiini-y  1,  1868  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868  ;  P.  O. 
address   Lel)anon.  N.  H. 

John  M.  Vinton,  l)orn.  Coruisli,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
teud)er  JO.  1862;  age,  '2',]  \  died  .Juue  16,  1868,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Frank  G.  Warren,  born,  Lyme,  N.  IL  ;  eulisted  Sep- 
tember L"),  1862  :  age,  2'.)  ;  discharged  for  disalulity  July 
18,  1868,  Conrord,  N.  H.  ;  <lied  August  2.  1887,  Lyme, 
N.  H. 

John  H.  White,  born.  Thetford,  \  t.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
teml)ei-6,  1862  ;  age,  28  ;  died  August  12,  1868,  at  Mound 
City,   111. 

Edward  C.  Whittaker,  l)o]-n,  Xorthfield,  Vt.;  enlisted 
September  8,  1862  ;  age,  '2i)  ;  died  .July  25,  1868,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

William  W.  Williams,  Ix.rn,  Orford,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Septend)er,  10,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  discharged  to  date  August 
20,  l^(V.]\  died  August  26,  1868,  at  l^uffalo,  N.  Y. 


ROSTER     OF     COMPANY     B. 


Capfair?    ,^/dcr/  ^.    J^crscj/. 


Captnin  Albert  J.  Hersey,  wnsn  imtiveor  New  Hanip- 
sliire  and  ,2;ri.idRate(l  fioiii  DaiiiiKKitli  CoHhi^c  in  (lie  class 
ol"  lS.")i).  Tie  was  in  'I'exas  feacliiiii;'  school  when  the  war 
began.  He  was  I'oi-ctMl  into  the  (N)nr<Mlei-ate  army,  bnt 
after  a  year's  ser\ice  he  esca[)e(l  and  foiiiid  his  way  into 
the  Union  lines.  He  was  coniniissioned  captain  of  C-om- 
pany  R,  Sixteenth  Regiment,  and  served  witli  tlie  regi- 
ment nntil  mnstered  out.  lie.  with  his  company,  was  in 
the  tight  at  S])ringheld  Ijanding.  lie  is  at  present  a 
j-esident  of  Manchester,   Iowa. 


378  iiisToKY  OF  THE  sixtp:ent]i  regiment 


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"^ 

First  Lieutenant  Ormnus  W  Burnlmni  was  born  in 
Antiini.  N.  H..  jNhiy  2.").  J8-i7.  Tie  moved  to  Hills- 
borough eiu'ly  in  the  year  1887.  At  nineteen  years  of 
age  he  was  tirst  lieutenant  in  the  Twenty-Sixth  Regi- 
ment New  Hani})shire  ]\lilitia.  and  ('ai)tain  in  the  same 
regiment  at  twenty.  Served  twelve  years  as  clerk  in  the 
office  of  Register  of  Deeds,  for  TTillsljorongh  County, 
N.  II. 

lie  enlisted  August  :^0.  IS()2,  as  a  jirivate  in  ('om])any 
B,  Sixteenth  Regiment  and  (daims  to  be  the  tirst  in  the 
state  to  respond  to  tlic  call  of  the  President  foi'  troops 
August  ;5(),  ]8()2.      He   was   i)romoted    to  a   hrst   lieuten- 


NEW    JIA.MJ'SHIUI':    VOJ.INTEEKS.  379 

ancy  and  went  to  Louisiana  with  tlie  reginipnt.  lie 
was  tak(Mi  ill  witli  erysipelas,  and  tlie  attending  surgeons 
pronounced  liis  disease  incurable  and  advised  liini  to 
](-tuiii  liomc  at  once.  Acting  on  this  advice  he  resigned 
his  commission  and  returned  to  New  Hampshire. 

lie  removed  to  Nashua,  N.  H.,  in  18()8,  where  he  was 
(MuploN'ed  as  clt^i'k  and  salesman  for  manufacturing  and 
comiuercial  houses.  He  moved  to  Monnt  Vernon  in  1888 
where  he  now  resides. 

He  has  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  nearly  twenty 
yeais,  and   is   l)y   occu})ation  a   fruit  and   l)erry  grower. 


880  IITSTOKY    OF    Till'     SIXTKKXTIl     IIKOIMENT 


<Seconct  J^ieut.   ^/borf  7/^.    7lfi€jf^in. 


Second  Lieutenant  Albert  W.  Wig^^in  was  born  in 
Tiiffonboronuli,  j\.  H.  He  enlisted  October  (5,  i8()2,  as  a 
private  in  ('()nii)any  B.  He  was  ai)])t)inted  second  lien- 
tenant  November  4,  J8()2,  and  tirst  li(-u tenant  hVbrnary 
f),  18():).  He  served  the  full  })ei-i(id  of  enlistment,  and 
was  nmstei'ed  out  with  the  ]-e,iiiment  AngMist  20,  18(58. 
ile  is  one  of  the  leading-  l)iisiness  iii<^n  of  AVolfboro,  N. 
11.,  a  man  of  stei-liii«j,'  woi'tli,  and,  is  hi,i;lily  esteemed  by 
all  who  know  him. 


NKW    irAMPSIirK7<:   volitnteeks. 


381 


First  Sergeant  Alvah  S.  lAhhey  was  boi'ii  in  Parson- 
field,  Me.,  and  at  tliirty-two  years  of  ai^e  enlisted  in  the 
Sixteentli  Regiment  Se])tenil)er  20,  18(52.  He  was  mus- 
tered in  as  first  sergeant  of  C-ompany  1>,  and  appointed 
second  lientenant  of  tlie  same  company  Fel)rnary  f),  18()8. 
He  was  mnstered  ovit  Angnst  2(),  18(58.  He  was  commis- 
sioned lirst  lientenant  and  then  captain  (d'  (-ompany  G, 
First  New  Ham])s]iire  Heavy  Artillery.  He  was  mns- 
tered  ont  -Inne  1."),  18(5,").  (Japtain  Libbey  retnrned  to 
Wolfboro,  N.  H.,  and  was  senior  mend)er  of  the  firm  of 
Libl)ey  &  Yarney,  linnber  dealers  and  mannfactnreis. 
He  died  Septend^er  (5,   bSlIf),  at  Wolfboro,  N.  H. 


'SS2 


HISTOIIY    OF    THE    SIXTEEXTJr    llEGIMENT 


Second  Sergennt  Lucius  B.  Wright  Avas  l)()in  in 
Wu.shiiigtoii.  N.  11.,  November  2.").  IKW  ;  educated  in  the 
disti'ict  school  and  'riil)l)w'  Union  Academy.  Like  mo.st 
other  ])oys  (.f  liifs  age,  he  "left  the  farm  for  the  city," 
being  eighteen  yeai's  of  age.  After  a  year  or  two  in  the 
city  he  retnrjied  to  his  native  .state  and  went  to  woi-k  in 
a  small  macdiine  shoj).  Tii  b'^,")l),  lie  joined  ihe  Second 
A'ei-moiit  Infanti'y  and  was  a  iiK-mber  of  the  I'egimeiit 
when  the  wai-  began.  He  waited  nidil  IS(;-i  Ixd'oi-e  g(dng 
into  active  sei'vice.  He  si)ent  the  Summer  and  b'all  of 
that   year   in   (%.)ncord   in   military  work  and  joim^l   the 


\K\V    TTA^FI'SIIMM':    \()T,r  XTKERS.  383 

Sixteenth  Regiment  :it  its  oigniii/alioii,  with  tlie  rank  of 
second  scru'ennt. 

( )n  his  I'd  iii'ii  lie  ;ig;iiii  cDiiiiiie'nccd  woi'k  as  a  machinist 
and  mechanical  ciigincci',  \\hi(di  ()ccn[)ati()n  he  has 
followed  most  of  the  tim<"  until  now. 

Voy  the  [)ast  sixti'cn  yeais  he  lias  made  a  s]>ccial(y  of 
engineering'  in  connection  with  tdcctrical  lighting  and 
power,  ha\ing  had  chaigcof  the  coiislrnction  of  some  of 
the  first  of  these  enter])rises. 

Sergeant  Wright  lives  in  Everett,  Mass.,  where  he  lias 
liiid  his  home  for  ovei'  twenty  yeai's,  having  for  a  family 
a  wife  ;ind  dangliler.  His  only  son  died  while  our  regi- 
ment was  at  l*)Utte  a  la  Hose.  lie  has  been  twice 
maiiied. 

Third  Sergennt  George  P.  Cotton,  born,  \\^)lfl)oro, 
N.  II.  ;  enlisted  September 'io.  18()"i;  age,  8*.);  mustered 
out  August  "io,  ISC)!!;  died  August  ID,  180."),  at  Wolfboro, 
N.  II.  Sergeant  Cotton  was  in  the  several  engagements 
at  Donaldsonville,  La.,  Jnne  28  to  July  9,  1863. 

Fourth  Sergeant  Ohadiah  F.  Rumrill,  born  Hills- 
boro,  N.  TI.  ;  enlisted  Septembei'  8,  1802;  age,  24; 
reduced  to  the  I'anks  at  his  own  recpiest  May  2(),  18(33  ; 
rea})pointed  sei-geant  July  17,  18(;:)  ;  dis(diarged  August 
20,  ]8(;;};   died  S(^ptember  10,   18(;3,  (develand,  O. 

Fifth  Sergeant  Jnnies  Winston,  born,  (ialway,  Ire- 
land ;  enlisted  S«-])feinbei' !),  1802;  age,  31);  mustered  out 
August  20,  18(;8  :  died  .lanuary  21,  188!).  at  Boston,  Mass. 

First  Corporal  Nathaniel  R.  Seribner,  born,  Piylield, 
Mass.  ;  enlisted  Sei)teinbe]-  id.  1S(;2  ;  age,  33  ;  died  June 
20,  1803,  at  New  ()i-leans.   La. 


:1S4  ItlSTOTlY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Second  Corporal  George  H.  Mitchell,  born,  Deering, 
N.  IJ.  ;  enlisted  September  T),  1802;  age,  22;  died  Angnst 
5,  b^HB,  near  Yioksburg,  Miss. 

Third  Corporal  Reiiel  Huntoon,  born,  Newpoit, 
enlisted  ()('tol)er  4,  ]8()2  ;  age,  :30  ;  reduced  to  ranks 
June  10,  1868;  appointed  iirst  sergeant  July  7,  18();3  ; 
mustered  out  August  20.  18('):!  :  died  Septeml)er  b7,  18():?, 
at  UuitY.  N.  H. 

Fourth  Corporal  Lewis  F.  Davis,  born.  Alton.  N.  11.; 
enlisted  October  IH,  18(52  ;  age  2;>  :  mustered  out  August 
20,  18()8;   P.  (J.  address  Janesville,  AVis. 

Fifth  Corporal  Henry  W.  Watson,  born,  llills- 
borougli,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Septend)er  4,  18(52;  age,  :)2  ; 
appointed  Sergeant,  April  1(5,  18(5:?  ;  niustei'ed  out  August 
20,  18(58  ;  P.  O.  address  IIills1)oroiigli  IJi-idge,  N.  H. 

Sixth  Corporal  Harlin  P.  Crane,  born.  Lo\v(dl,  Mass.; 
enlisted  Septeml)er  21),  18(52;  age,  28;  mustered  out 
August  20,  18(58;   P.  O.  address  Whitehall,  Mont. 

Seventh  Corporal  Charles  MeClintoek,  born,  Hills- 
borough, N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Se])tend)er  1(3,  1862  ;  age,  20  ; 
died  July  17,  1868,  at  New  Orleans,  La. 

Eighth  Corporal  George  (F.)  Goodhue,  l)orn,  Brook- 
tield,  N.  IL;  enlisted  October  (5,  18(52  ;  age,  19  ;  mustered 
out  August  20,  .1868;   P.  O.  address  Wakefield,  N.  II. 

Musician  Charles  O.  Randall,  born,  Lee,  N.  IL  ; 
enlisted  September  2U,  1862;  age,  41  ;  died  July  8,  1868, 
at  New  Orleans,  La. 

Musician  Peter  C.  Seavey,  born,  Pittstield,  N.  IL  ; 
enlisted  ()ct()l)er  17,  1862  ;  age,  44  ;  mustered  out  August 
20,  18(5:?;   died  April  14,   181).'),  at  Leniu>xville,  (^amida. 


NEW   iiAM  I'siii  i;k  nolfntkers.  885 

Wagoner  Hoi  lis  P.  Chnpmau,  born.  Dover,  N.  IT.  ; 
enliste'd  Septenibei'  ^2,  IS(i*2;  ;ii;e',  'il)  ;  mustered  out 
August  :i?(),   I8G3;  P.  O.  address  Seymour,  Mo. 

IMJHATES. 

Leoniclas  J.  Aveiy,  l)()iii.  Wolfhoio,  X.  II.,  enlisted 
Sei)tend)er  L^:5,  18(')1^  :  a.^v.  2:\  \  di-'d  duly  2(5,  ISC)'-!,  at  Port 
Hudson,  La. 

Charles  H.  Bickford,  l)<)iii.  Wolfhoro,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Se'])teiid)er  20,  18()2;  a,L;'e,  "i  I  ;  mustered  out  August  iiO, 
18():'>;   died  August  ±2,   ISC.!!,  at  W.-lfhoi-o,  N.  H. 

Nnthuniol  D.  Blmo,  bom,  l*.aitlett,  N.  I[.  :  enlisted 
Octobei'  ](».  \Si\-2  \  age,  IS;  died  August  7,  bS(;;j,  near 
\' i('ksl)urg.  Miss. 

Amos  P.  H.  Brown,  boru,  Piristol,  N.  H.  ;  eidisted 
()ctol)er  21,  1S()2;  age,  :)8  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
]mH\   P.  ().  address  Pelhani,  N.  II. 

I^uke  O.  Carpenter,  born,  Alexandria,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Septem))er  lo,  18G2  ;  age,  20;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  P.  O.  address  Hillsborougli  Bridge,  N.  H. 

John  C.  Caryl,  born,  Stoekbridge,  Vt.;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 2«),  18()2;  age,  48;  musteied  out  August  20,  1808;  P.O. 
address  Barracks  No.  0,  National   Military  Home,  Ohio. 

Joseph  W.  Chaniberlin,  lioiu.  W'olfboro,  N.  H., 
enlisted  0('to1)er  7,  bS(;2  ;  age,  1!);  mustered  <jut  August 
20,  1808;   P.  O.  address  C!enterville,   \.  II. 

James  Chase,  born,  T'cMlfoid,  X.  11.  ;  enlisted  Sej)- 
tendjei'  'A,  KS(;2  ;  age,  40;  tipjxtiiited  coiporal  .liily  17, 
1808;  mush'ied  out  August  20,  ISi;:');  P.  O.  address 
Melvin  Mills,  N.  11. 


880  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

Thomas  Chase,  born,  Wolfboro,  N.  TI.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 18,  1802  ;  age,  44  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1803  ; 
died  December  0,  1888,  nt  Wolfboro,  N.  H. 

Charles  G.  Colhey,  born,  Deering,  N.  IT.  ;  enlisted 
Sei)tend)er  13,  1802;  age,  31);  died  June  20,  18(53,  at 
Marine  Hospital,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Joel  B.  Cooky  born,  Wolfboro,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Octol)er 
8,  1802;    age,  31;   deserted  Oct.  29,  1802,  at  Concord, N.  TI. 

Cyrus  Cooledge,  born,  nillsl)orougb,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Septend)er  13,  1802  ;  age,  20  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1803;  P.  O.  address  24  Whitney  Avenue,  Canil)ridge- 
port,  Mass. 

William  Corson,  born.  New  Durham,  N.  IT.  ;  enlisted 
September  20,  1802;  age,  3.");  mustei'ed  out  August  20, 
1803;  P.  O.  address  South  Wolfboro,  N.  H. 

James  W.  Cross,  born,  Canada  ;  enlisted  November 
10,  1802;  age,  30;  appointed  corporal  July  17,  1803; 
mustered  out  August  20,  1803;  died  Api'il  21,  1870,  at 
Wolfboro,  N.  H. 

John  O.  Dinsmore,  born,  Francestown,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  f),  1802  ;  age,  4.0  ;  died  June  20,  1803,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 


NEW    lIA.MrsUIKE    ^■oLL•  NTEEKS. 


387 


•jcore/c  Z7^    'Z)un/^ic/ci. 


George  T.  Diiniield  was  l)()rii  in  AVnsliiiiiiton,  N.  11., 
.lime  8,  1840.  He  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Sixteenth 
Rei^'inient,  on  September  2,  ]8()2,  and  served  until  mus- 
tered ont  at  Concord,  August  20,  1808.  He  was  at  the 
taking  of  Foit  l)UitoM.  l)Utt('  a  la  Rose,  was  in  the  light 
at  Si)ringli<d(l  Laiuling  and  at  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson. 
He  was  company  cook  diiriug  the  last  three  months  ol" 
his  service. 


388  iriSTOKY    (»F    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

James  C  Dwight,  ])0]'n,  Canada;  enlisted  October  10, 
1802:  a.o-e,  28;  deserted  October  20,  1862,  at  Concord,  N.H. 

Lennder  H.  Eaton,  born,  Hillsboroiigli,  N.  H.  ;  en- 
listed September  10,  18(')2  :  age  18  ;  mustered  out  August 
20,  1868;  died  September  24,  186H. 

Albert  Joinery,  born,  r)artlett,  N.  ?1.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember If),  18(52;  age.  '.V.i  :   mustered  out  August  20,  1868. 

Moses  Hmery,  born,  Canada  ;  enlisted  Sp[»tember  22, 
1862  ;  age,  87  ;  died  August  18,  186)8,  at  \V()in)oro,  N.  H. 

Otbnall  D.  Fairbanks,  born.  Dec-ring,  N.  11.;  enlisted 
Septeml)er  IT),  1862;  age,  81  ;  discliaigcMl  to  date  August 
20,  1868;  died  September  26,  1808,  at  Deering,  N.  H. 

Nathaniel  D.  Parnsworth,  boiii.  IlavfMliill,  N.  H.  ; 
enlisted  October  10,  1862;  age,  48  ;  mustered  out  August 
20,  1868;  died  September  12,  1888,  at  Wakefield,  N.  H. 

George  B.  Fogg,  born,  \V(dt'l)oro,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Oc- 
tober 6,  1862  ;  age,  '2'S  ;  deserted  October  20,  1862,  Con- 
cord, N.  H. 

Bartholomew  Folan,  l)orn,  Ireland;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 19,  1862  ;  age,  25  ;  died  June  7,  1868,  at  New  Orleans, 
La. 


NKW    HAM  i'siii i;k   \  (»H  NTKKUS. 


880 


fires    ^orsai'tA. 


Squires  Forsaith  wns  l)()in,  Deering,  N.  H.,  June  9, 
1881).  He  liv(Ml  on  a  farm  iiiitil  the  Spi-inii,' of  1801,  when 
lie  went  to  Ilillsboio  to  learn  the  tin-smith's  trade. 
September  •),  18(52,  he  enlisted  in  ('ompany  B,  tSix- 
teenth  Regiment  as  a  ])iivat<'.  AVhile  at  Camp  Pai*ax)et 
lie  was  detailed  as  orderly  bngler  at  l)]-igade  headqnarters 
commanded  by  (leneral  Andrews.  In  .Tnne,  18(58,  he  was 
oi'dered  to  report  at  coips  liead([nai'(<M's  \vhei'e  lie  was 
bnglei'  until  liis  term  of  service  exjjii'ed.  He  re-enlisted 
.biniiai-y.    18(5,").    as    musician,    joined    the    Army    of    the 


890  IITSTOUY    OF    TllK    SIXTEENTH    KE(;TMEXT 

Potomac  and  .served  until  tlie  close  of  the  war.  Since 
the  war  he  has  l)een  in  the  stove  and  hai'dware  business 
in  Antrim,  N.  II.,  which  is  now  his  V.  ().  address. 

George  W.  Frost,  born,  Wollboio,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
October  7,  l^iVJ  :  a,uv,  :21  ;  died  April  l^^s  ISO:?,  at  15aton 
Ronue,  La. 

Frnncis  A.  G^7e,  born,  (luihlhall,  \'t. ;  enlisted  Octol^e]- 
L^n,  1S02;  au-e,  18:  discharu'ed  to  date  Au.u'ust  20.  1  SOS  ; 
died  several  veai's  since  in  South  ])akota. 

Benjamin  C.  Garland,  l)()rn,  Bartlett,  N.  H. ;  eidisted 
Novend)er  4,  1802;  ag'e,  18;  niustei'ed  out  Aui;,-ust  20. 
180)8;  P.  ().  address  Whitelield,  N.  H. 

Charles  F.  Gould,  born,  (iivM-ulield,  X.  11.  ;  enlisted 
Septend)er  IT),  1802;  a^-e,  20;  mustered  out  Auii,-ust  20. 
1808;   P.  ().  address  Keene,  N.  11. 

Enoch  I.  Gould,  l)(»rn,  (Ireentield.  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
()ct()ber  2,  1802  ;  ag•(^  42  ;  mustered  out  Aui^iist  20,  18(;8  ; 
died  September  1,  1808. 

Alpha  M.  Hall,  born,  Bartlett,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 17,  1802;  aii'e,  21  ;  appointed  corjioral  July  17, 
1808;  mustered  out  August  20,  1808;  P.  O.  address 
Bartlett,  N.  H. 

Charles  C  Hall,  boin,  Bartleti,  X.  II.;  enlisted 
November  4,  1802  ;  age,  28  ;  died  .hine  22,  180)8.  at  New 
Oi'leans,  La. 

Mlias  M.  Hall,  born,  l^artlett,  N.  11.  :  eidisted  October 
18,  1802  ;  age,  48  ;  deserted  November  18,  1802,  at  (Jon- 
cord,  N.  H. 


NEW     IIA.M  I'SIIIKK    XOHNTKERS. 


391 


Luther  T.  Hnstiiifis  was  born  in  Dceiing,  N.  11.  ITe 
enlisted  in  the  Sixteenth  lieiiimeiit  Sei)teinl)er  K),  18()'2  ; 
age  '2'^.  He  sei'ved  witli  the  regiment  dni-ing  its  full 
term,  and  was  mnstei'CMl  out  August  ;2(»,  ISCi:!.  He  re-«^n- 
listed  as  private  in  the  First  New  Hampshire  Kegiment 
TTeavy  Artillery,  Se[)tend)er  1,  1S(;4,  and  was  musteied 
(lilt  June  2.').  ISi;;).  JI(^  died  in  Kverett,  INlass.,  Novem- 

l)e]'  If),  1870,  and  was  buried  in  South  Antiim,  N.  H. 
IHs  wife  was  ^leliinhi  I'lissell.  His  son  Willie  Hastings 
is  still  livinii-,  but  the  other  son,  Ai-chibaid.  is  dead. 


302 


IIISTOIJY    OK    'I'lIK    srX'lEKXTlT    IJEGIMENT 


^k. 


.i^' 


i^ 


f 


Joseph  P.  Heath  o]"  WoU'boio,  N.  FI.,  was  l)<)in  in 
Dover,  N.  II..  Jamiai'v  IS,  ISo.").  Il(^  (^nlisted  in  Com- 
])any  P),  Sixteenth  Ke.iiiineiit,  ()ctol)ei',  I8()2,  and  sei'ved 
with  the  rei;inient  except  whih'  at  Donaldsonville,  La. 
He  was  one  of  the  lieroic  defenders  dnrinu'  the  siege  of 
Foi't  ]jntler  at  l)onahlsonville  and  was  also  in  the  engage- 
meiit  on  Ijayoii  Ija  FourcJie.  He  was  mustered  ont  at 
Concord,  N.  II..  with  the  regiment.  lie  again  eidisted 
in  Septend)er,  IS(J4,  in  Company  (i.  First  New  Hamj)- 
shire  Heavy  Aj-tillery,  serving  niitil  mustered  out  at  the 
close  of   tliewar.      He  has  been  oih:"  of   the  leading  nier- 


NEW    llAMl'SIIIKE    VOLUNTEERS.  398 

cliants  of  Wolfboro  for  twenty  years.  Since  1800,  lie  has 
been  sux^erintendent  of  Wolfboro  Wafer  AVorks. 

George  W.  Hayes,  boiii,  .hiclvson,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted 
October  8,  l^m  ;  age,  ^8  ;  died  April  18,  18(;8,  at  Baton 
Rouge,  La. 

Albert  M.  Heath,  born,  Hillsl)oro,  N.  ?T.;  enlisted 
September  8,  18<;2  ;  agv,  '2A  ;  died  July  2(),  18()8,  at  Port 
Hudson,  La. 

Charles  C.  Hoyt,  boiii,  Ilillsboro,  ^\  II.;  enlisted 
Se[)tend)er  11),  bSCi'i  ;  age,  21);  mustered  out  August  20, 
\^^)]\  P.  O.  address  28  Lake  Street,  AVorcester,  lAIass. 


oU4  JIISTOUY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 


^rt/i u r    ^a >n i7fo ri    yn(/>a m . 


Arthiir  Hnmilton  Iiiiirnin  \\:is  born  in  Newjjort,  N. 
II.,  Jiiiit'  K).  is:')',).  He  nilistcd  :it  N<'Wiiort  Si^ptenilx'i- 
IS,   18(')2,  in  (N»ni]):iny  1).  and  was  ninstered  in  Novendier 

I,  18()2,  and  detailed  as  nienibei-  of  the  l)and.  lie  was 
discliai'U'ed  witli  tlic  r<'iiiin<^iit  at  (%)iicoi-d  Auiiust  20, 
i.SCi;!.  lie  was  clerk  in  the  West  Indies  (roods  bnsiness 
foi'  tell  yeais  in  Newport.  N.  II.  He  was  elected  I'or 
tliive  teiMiis  as  reg'istei'  of  de<^ds  for  Sullivan  (Joiiid y,  N. 

II.  Ill  -Inly,  KS78,  lie  was  a[»i)oiiited  station  auent  at 
Anlriiii.  N.  H.,  which  })osition  he  now  holds. 


KEW     II.\>!  PsmiJE    VoLrNTEEKS.  805 

Clinrles  Ji.  Johnson,  boiii,  Ntnv  Dmliain,  N.  \\.  ; 
enlisted  September  ID,  \^^')'2  \  ii,ue,  IS;  iniisrei-ed  out 
August  20,  ISf;:;  ;  (lied  Maicli  1<),  ISl):],  at  Wolflxno,  N.ll. 

Bzra  F.  Johnson,  horn.  New  Diiiliaiii,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted 
SepteiMl»ei-  ID,  1S(;2;  age,  21);  mustered  out  August  20, 
1S()8;   died  P'eluiiaiy  14,  1SS',),  at  Wolfhoi'o,  N.  11. 

John  S.  Kenison,  l)orii,  I'artlett,  JN'.  II.  ;  enlisted 
Novend)ei' 4,  1S()2  ;  age,  22;  died  .Inne  7,  ]S(;8,  at  New 
Orleans,  l^a. 

Ezra  H.  Kenision,  (2)  l)oi'n,  ^Varl'en.  N.  H  .  ;  enlisted 
Se])tend)er  24.  1S()2  ;  age.  IS;  mustered  out  August  20, 
lS(i;{;    p.  ().  addicss  Dover,  N.  H. 

Dnvid  vS.  Ktnihnll,  hoin,  Alton,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
teml)er  20,  ]S(;2;  age,  44;  died  Api'il  21),  1S()8,  Hrasliear 
Cit}-,  La. 

WoodJniry  I,.  Jcnvitt,  hoiii,  Tuftoidxuo.  JN.  II.  ; 
enlisted  Sejitembei'  20,  1S()2;  ag<',  ;)4  ;  mustei'ed  out 
August  20.  ISO:!;  died  October  IS,  bSOIJ,  at  Tul'tonboro, 
N.  II. 

John  W.  Lcc,  l)orn,  IIigligat<\  Vt.  ;  eidisted  October 
K),  1S(')2;  age,  27  ;  mustei-ed  out  August  20,  ISO^;  died 
Jaiiuai'v  IT),  1S7S.  at  lligligat(\  \'t. 

John  II.  Lond,  boiu,  Wolfboro.  N.  II.;  eidisled 
Oct()l)er  (),  lSn2  ;  age,  2;-!  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  ISO:]  ; 
P.  O.  address  Wolfboro,  N.  II. 

Sumner  C.  McAdinns,  boiii,  Ilillsboi'o.  X.  11.;  enlisted 
September  18,  ]S()2;  age,  2S  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
ISO:};    died  Sei)teud)(M-  24,    1SC.:5. 

Richard  McAllister,  l)oin,  Antrim,  N.  H.  ;  eidisted 
Septend)er  If),  ]S02;  age,  44;  mustei-e(l  out  August  20,  ISO:}. 


396  IIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Henry  2?.  Martin,  boni.  Boscoiueii,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Sex^tteniber  15,  1802;  a.ue,  22  ;  inusteied  out  August  20, 
1863;  P.  O.  address  Hillsboio  i?i-id-e,  N.  H. 

Jonathan  Mead,  born,  rnutlett,  N.  11;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember IT),  1862  ;  ane,  22  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ; 
P.  O.  address  Nelson  street,  ^Nlanoliester.  N.  II. 

l/conard  Morse,  born,  Fraucestown.  N.  II.  ;  enlisted 
Septend)er  27,  18(52;  age,  44;  disidiarged  February  26. 
1863. 

Levi  Monlton,  boin.  Hart's  Loeation;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 2o.   1862;   age,  23;    uiustered  out  August  20,  1863. 

James  J.  Miirdangh,  born,  llilishoi-o,  2s.  II.  ;  enlisted 
Septend)er  {'),  1862;  age,  33;  mustered  out  August  20, 
186)3  ;   P.  ().  address  De  Witt,  111. 

Fi aneis  H.  Newman,  boiii,  Ibiglitou,  Mass.  ;  enlisted 
Septeml)er  10,  1862;  age,  18;  luustert'd  out  August  20, 
1863;   died  August   17,   1887. 

William  Norise,  Jr.,  l)orn,  Deering,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted 
September  f),  1862;  age,  33;  musteied  out  August  20, 
1863;   P.  O.  address  West  Deering,  N.  II. 

Cyrus  F.  Noyes,  ])(}]■]].  Plaistow,  N.  11.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tenibei-  18,  186)2;  age,  18;  must(M-ed  out  August  20; 
1863;   P.  ().  a.blress  Westville,  N,  II, 


^bf 


NEW    HAM  I'SII  I  i;k   xolintekks. 


397 


£c/ivarc/   J^     9/oj/c 


FaIw<'ii'(I  F.  Noyes,  ])()vu,  l^hiistow,  N.  11.;  enlisted 
Se])teiiil)ei- 2.'),  IS(;2;  n.ii'e,  2(»  ;  inuslpicd  out  Aug'iistL^O, 
ISO;',;    P.  ().  address  Westville,  N.   II. 

Lennder  Niitc,  }u)iu,  I'aitlett.  N.  II.;  enlisted  Se})- 
tember  It"),  1,S(;:2 ;  a^e,  :',();  deserted  Octobei-  ID.  1S()2  ; 
(gd  from  des.)  discdiar.ued  Apiill);  ISC.:^,  at  Coiu'ord,  JV.II. 

Andrew  T.  Piirkci%hniu.  T.aitlett,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
October  10,  l,S(')l^  ;  a,ue,  of);  mustered  out  Aui;-ust  1^0, 
1868  ;  P,  ().  address  Burtlett,  N.  H, 


898  HISTOIIY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Joiin  C.  ParA-er,  born,  l^artlett,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 20,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  died  July  29,  1868,  at  Port 
TTiidson,  La. 

Pbineas  Parker,  born,  Bartlett,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Octo- 
ber 18,  1862;  a«e,  88  ;  ninstered  out  August  20,  1868; 
P.  ().  address  Newton  Upper  F'alls,  Mass. 

William  A.  Parker,  born,  Bartlett,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
November  5,  1862  ;  age,  81  ;  a[)})ointed  corporal  Aj^ril 
16,  1868;  mustered  ont  Augnst  20,  1868;  P.  O.  address 
Lowell,  Mass. 

Joseph  II.  Rieker,  born,  I'rooklield,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
October  9,  1862  ;  age,  28;  died  July  2-1,  1868,  at  Port 
Hudson,  La. 

Francis  W.  Rohhins,  hovw,  Hillslx.ro,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Septendier  10,  1862  ;  age,  27  ;  difMJ  August  9,  1868,  at 
Cairo,  Til. 

George  H.  Robertson,  born,  Boston,  Mass.  ;  enlisted 
Angust  80,  1862;  age,  20;  died  Augnst  22,  1868,  at 
Mound  City,  111. 

Daniel  Rollins,  l)orn,  Bi-ooktield,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Se})- 
tcndipi-  19,  1862;  age,  44:  musterccl  o;it  August  20,  bs68; 
P.  O.  address  East  AVoll'boro,  N.  H. 

Charles  G.  Sherwood,  l)orii.  Poole,  England  ;  enlisted 
September  19.  1862:  agv.  48:  died  June  14,  18()8,  at 
New  Oilenns,    L:i. 

Cyrus  F.  Stanton,  bom,  Haiti. 'It,  N.  H.  ;  enlj.stcd  Sep- 
tciuberlT),  1862  ;    age,  20  ;    disclKirged  to  date  4ngitst  20, 

18()8. 


NEW   irAi\ri'sniKi:  volunteers.  800 

Wnltcr  P.  Straw,  l)()iii,  Hillsboro,  N.  IT.  ;  enlisted 
SeptHnil)^!- 20,  ISO'J;  :i,Li>',  44;  niiistei'ed  out  Auii'iist  20. 
18(1:!  ;   (lied  April  2S.   1S.^!7. 

Denjaniin  7'\  Tricker,  born,  Br(»okliel(l,  N.  IF.  ; 
enlisted  Se|)tenil)ei-  ^o.  ISO'i  ;  age,  :>()  ;  niiistered  out 
Alt-list  21),   ISG8;    P.  ().  address  Mulvane,  Kans. 

Hdwnrd  Turner,  boiii,  Kngland  ;  enlisted  September 
22,  18(;2;  age,  20  ;  niustered  (.ut  August  20,  ISIkJ  ;  died 
Januai  y  10,  1S70,  at  Sontli  (Iroveland,  Mass. 

Richard  A.  Webber,  born,  (loslien,  N.  II.  ;  eidisted 
September  12,  18(32  ;  age,  88;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868  ;  died 1806. 

Joseph  J.  Whitten,  l)orn.  Wolfboro,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  22,  1862;  age,  28;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868;  P.  ().  address  L:ikei)ort,  N.  H. 

Edward  J.  Wiley,  born,  Fianeistown,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  18,  186  2;  age,  44.  He  was  mustered  out 
August  20,  1868  ;  volunteered  foi-  storming  party  at  Port 
Hudson,  La  ,  under  General  Order  40.  He  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment. 


ROSTER    OF    COMPANY    C. 


(rm 


Capfain   -P^nron   .P^.     C/ar/c, 

Captain  Aaron  A.  Clark  was  boin  in  Topsfiekl,  Mass., 
October  19,  1834.  In  1850,  he  removed  to  Wilton,  N.  H., 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  assisted  in  recruiting 
Company  C,  Sixteentli  Regiment,  and  was  commissioned 
captain.  He  served  witli  the  regiment  until  it  was  mus- 
tered out  August  20,  1808.  Tlie  survivors  of  his  com- 
pany hold  liim  in  liigh  esteem  and  meet  in  annual 
encampment  in  one  of  tlie  towns  fi'om  wliich  the  company 
was  recruited.      His  P.  ().  address  is  AViUon.  X.  H. 

First  Lieutenant  Henry  31.  Mills,  born,  (Titil'ton,  \'t.; 
enlisted  October  10,  18():::?  ;  age.  24  ;  mustered  out  Augnst 
20,  18(53  ;   P.  O.  addi'ess  Lowell,  Mass. 


NKW     HAM  rsil  I  KK    Vi>LrNTEKi;S. 


401 


Oooonci  jCi'out.   Sciivarci  ^,    O'l^onnc/f, 


Second  Lieutenant  Edward  J.  O'Donnell  was  born  in 
Lyndeboro,  llillsboro  Couiify.  N.  II.,  ^lay  11,  1835,  and 
was  residin.a-  in  Mason,  N.  II..  at  rli<'  bicakinu'  out  of  the 
wai'.  Ill  ScptHinlx^r.  ISOi,  Iip  was  tiiveii  iccriiitini;'  jtapers 
and  enlisted  a  S(|iia(l  (»!'  volunteers,  wliicli  joining'  witli 
others  IVoni  \\'ilt(»n  and  MiH'oid.  united  h*  form  Com- 
pany ( '  of  the  Sixteen!  li  IJeui men t.  of  wliicli  A.  A.  ( Mark 
was  (•oniinissioiied  captain.  In  April,  \^iV.\,  t  lie  i-e,uinient 
then  l)ein,<i,- at  Foit  I'lirtoii,  r)iitte;'i  la  IJose,  I^a.,  Lient. 
()'I)oiinell  was  oi'dered  on  l)(i;ird  the  rnite(l  States  (Tiin- 
boat   Arizona^  in  coniniand    of  a  s(iuad  of  sliai'i)shooters 


40^  hisT()i:y  of  the  sfxteextii   i;E(;nn:NT 

and  remained  in  that  capacity  wliilo  she  made  the 
fanions  trip  as  the  pioneer  gunboat  throngli  Grand  Lake, 
Atchafalaya,  Bayou  and  Old  river,  making  comninnica- 
tion  with  the  I'pper  Fleet  then  lying  at  the  mouth  of 
Old  river.  '"This"  he  says  "was  an  interesting  and 
romantic,  as  well  as  dangerous,  crnise.  The  tropical 
foliage  sweeping  our  decks  from  the  towering  trees 
growing  to  the  water's  edge  more  than  once  tore  out  our 
wheel  houses.  At  any  moment  some  Confederate  scout 
was  liable  to  lire  on  us  from  the  shore,  sending  some  one 
to  his  last  roll  call." 

Subsequently  the  Arizona  was  oidered  up  Red  river 
and  had  engagements  with  Fort  de  Rusa  and  with  the 
rebel  gunboats  Wehh  and  Mar//  7\  and  with  the  fort 
on  Little  Washita.  Later  the  Arizona  captured  Alex- 
andria on  Red  rivei*  and  the  lieutenant  was  placed  on 
shore  in  (diarge  of  the  city. 

About  the  middle  of  May,  18G3,  he  was  ordered  on 
shore  as  provost  marshall  at  Bayou  Sara,  where  he 
remained  until  June  15,  1863.  Soon  after  returning  to 
his  regiment,  at  Port  Hudson,  General  Banks  called  for 
a  thousand  men  to  act  as  a  storming  party  to  lead  a 
charge  on  the  enemy's  works,  called  the  Forlorn  Hope. 
Lieutenant  O'Donnell  joined  these  volunteers  and  re- 
mained until  the  surrender  of  Poit  Hudson  July  8,  1803. 

After  being  mustered  out  he  took  his  degree  as  M.  1)., 
at  Dartmouth  College,  was  mustered  into  the  Thirteenth 
Maryland  Infantry  as  first  assistant  surgeon  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  is  now  a  practicing  i>hy- 
sician  at  Auburn,  Kans. 


NKW     IIAMl'SIIIKK    \()I,I'NTKEKS.  403 

First  Sergeant  Lewis  P.  Ray,  boiii,  ll()[)kiiit()ii,  N.H.; 
enlisted  September  1.  1S(^J  ;  :ii;e,  2"2  ;  iimstered  out  Aug- 
ust 'iO.  isi;;);    1'.  ().  :i(Miess  Blooniiiigtou,  111. 

Second  Sergeant  Henry  H.  Stevens,  Ixu  ii,  Wilton, 
N.  H.;  enlisted  September  22.  1862;  age,  22;  mustered 
out  August  20.  1S08;  P.  O.  address  180  West  Rand()lj)li 
street,  Chicago,   111. 

Third  Sergeant  Josiali  D.  Crosby,  born.  Mil  ford,  N. 
H.  ;  enlisted  Septend)er  1,  1,S(J2  ;  age,  44;  died  Ma}"  12, 
isC).'),  at  New  Orleans,  La. 

Fourth  Sergeant  John  E.  Sterns,  l)orn.  New  IpsAvieh, 
N.  11.;  enlisted  Septend)er  15,  lcS62  ;  age,  2.5;  mustered 
out  August  20,  1S()8  ;  deceased. 

Fiftli  Sergeant  Augustus  I.  Sawtelle,  born,  Hrook- 
line,  N.  H.;  enlisted  September  15,  1862  ;  age,  41  ;  died. 
.Tuly  6,  1S68.  at  Algiers,   La. 

First  Corporal  Harrison  M.  Livingston,  born.  New 
Ipswich,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sei>tember  2,  1862;  age,  22; 
appointed  sergeant  June  30,  1863;  mustered  out  Aug- 
ust 20,  1863  ;  P.  O.  address  Greenville,  N.  H. 


4(14  IIIS'IOKY    OF    'I'lIK    SIXTKKNTII     KK(;niKXT 


Second  Corporal  ?^/////s  JV.    ^ddotf. 

Second  Corporal  Willis  H.  Abbott,  born,  Wilton,  N. 
H.;  enlisted  September  1,  1862  ;  n,i;e,  23  ;  appointed  ser- 
geant July  7,  1S(>'>  ;  mustered  out  Au.i;-ust  20,  1S63  ;  P. 
().  addi-ess  Wilton,  N.  H. 

Third  Corporal  Jnnies  Davis,  bom  Sliirb  v,  Mass.  ; 
enlisted  Sei)teiuber  18,  1S62  ;  a^e,  4.")  ;  dit'cl  Auuust  li), 
ISli,",.  at  Cairo,  111. 

Fourth  Corporal  Clinton  Bohanon,  boiii.  I'lookline, 
N.  II.;  enlisted  Sept(Mnber  4,  iSCti';  aiic.  20:  iiiusteivd 
out  August  20,  1S(),')  ;   volunteei-ed    in   stoiiuiug   paitv  at 


NKW     HAMI'SIIIRK    VoLt'NTEEUS.  405 

Port  lliidsoii,  L;i.,  under  (<eiier:d  Order  4i)  ;  P.  ().  address 
Petersham,  j\Iass. 

Fifth  Corpornl  Churlcs  E.  French,  Ixu  ii,  lVpi)erell, 
Mass.;  fidisted  Sepfeiubcr  i\  iSCrJ  ;  a^v,  IS;  mustered 
out  Aiiii'iist  20,  I860;  died  .Inly  10,  ISIU.  :it  Wilton.  N.IT. 

Sixth  Corporal  George  F.  Stone,  born,  Watertown, 
Mass.,  enlisted  Septend)er  1,  LS62  ;  age,  24;  mustered 
out  August  20,  1S68. 

Seventli  Corporal  Alanson  W.  Peahody^  born,  Mid- 
dleton,  A"t.;  enlisted  Se])teniber  1,  1862;  age,  20;  mus- 
ter<Ml  out  August  20,  18()H. 

Fii^hth  Corporal  Charles  Blanchard,  l)oin,  Milford, 
N.  II.;  enlisted  Septemb'M' 27,  I8(i2  ;  age,  liT  ;  mustered 
out  August  20,  186));  died  Septend)er  20,  186)8,  at  AVil- 
ton,  N.  11. 

Musician  William  J.  Gray,  born,  Scotland  ;  enlisted 
October  22,  1862  ;  age,  21  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  died  July  15,  1889,  at  Enfield,  N.  H. 

PRIVATES.  \ 

Amos  W.  Abbott,  hoYW,  Ahmednuggur,  India;  enlisted 
Septeud)er  2,  1862  ;  age,  10  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868  ;  P.  O  address  Minnea])olis,  Minn. 

William  Abbott,  boiii,  .hickson.  Me.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tembei- 8,  1862;  age,  28  ;  muslered  out  August  20,  1863; 
died  August  24,  1868,  at  Mil  fold,  N.  H. 

Chauncey  A.  Adams,  Ixuii.  Mason,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted 
September  IC).  1862  ;  agv,  11»:  mustered  out  A  ugust  20, 
1863;  P.  O.  address  Milford.  A.  H. 


4()()  insToIlY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

George  L.  Adnnis,  l)()rii.  Mason.  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  i^ep- 
teniber  IT),  18();2  ;  a,i;e.  88;  died  Augnst  10,  ISHS,  ar 
Mason,  N.  H. 

Nathan  Adams,  born,  Mason,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 1(3,  18(32  ;  age,  4(3  ;  nnistered  out  August  20,  1863; 
died  January  21,  1802,  at  Fitzwilliaiu.  N.   II. 

John  P.  Alexander,  born.  Mount  \  ernon,  N.  H.  ; 
enlisted  Se])tend)er  18,  18(32  ;  age,  22  ;  discliarged  to  date 
August  20,  18(38;  died  September  20,  1863,  atMattoon,  111. 

Albert  T.  Austin,  born.  New  Ipswich,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Septend)er  27,  1862;  age,  18;  died  August  1,  1863,  at 
Port  Hudson,  La. 

Charles  R.  Bacon,  born,  Nashua,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  13,  1862;  age,  20  ;  mustered  out  August  20. 
1868;  P.  O.  address  1193  Broadway,  New  York  City. 

Charles  P.  Baldwin,  born,  Ilillsboro,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  2,  18(i2  ;  age,  18;  died  June  21.  18(;3,  at  Port 
Hudson,  La. 

Sydney  A.  Barrett,  born,  Washington,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
October  6,  1862  ;  age,  37  ;  discharged  December  17,  1862, 
at  NeAv  York  City  ;  P.  O.  address  Gibbon,  Neb. 

Charles  C.  Bartleit,  born,  Lowell,  Mass.  ;  enlisted 
September  1,  1862;  age,  28;  musteied  out  August  20, 
1868  :  P.  O.  address  Milford,  N.  II. 

George  Blanehard,  born,  ]\Iill'oi(l,  N.  H.  ;  eidisted 
Sei)tenibei'  27,  1862  ;  age.  30  ;  mustered  out  Aiigusr  20, 
1863;   P.  ().  address  Wilton,  N.  FI. 

John  Blanehard,  born,  Milfoid.  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Octobei-  6,  1862  ;  age,  86  ;  mustered  out  August  2(»,  1863  ; 
P.  ().  aibhess  Wilton,  N.  H. 


NEW    HAM  I'SIIIKK    VoLUNTKEKS.  407 

William  31.  Blancluird,\)n\r\.  AfiU'ord,  X.  TT.;  t^nlistpd 
S('ptenil)ei'  lo,  ]S()2;  ;i,i>e,  IS;  <lis('li:ir,<j,tMl  (o  dafc  Aiii;iist 
20,   ISIkJ;  (lied  Sei»r<'iiil)(']- 2,  18(;:{,  at  Wilton,  N.   II. 

John  Bohnuou,  hoiii,  IJiookliiic,  N.  II.  ;  ciilisf^^d  Sep- 
teinber  4,  18()2  ;  aii-(%JS;  nnistei'i'd  out  AiiL^iist  20,  1<S()8; 
P.  ().  address  Pei)[)(Mvll,  Mass. 

Ramsey  C.  BoiilwvU,  l)oiii,  Lpe(di  Lake,  Minn.  ; 
enlisted  September  II,  18(52;  :ige,  2.");  niiistei'ed  out 
August  20.  ]8():',  ;    \\  ().  addi-ess  Nashua,  N.   II. 

William  C.  Boiitncll,  l)oin,  Lyndel)oi(>,  A.  II.  ;  en- 
listed Septend).')-  22,  1802;  age,  :V)  ;  died  June  21,  18(33, 
;it  New  ( )rleaiis,   La. 

Francis  V.  Bradford,  boiii,  Wilton,  N.  U.  ;  enlisted 
Sei»tend)er  27,  18(52;  a^v,  18;  mustered  out  August  2(», 
1863. 

Asa  Burgess,  boiii.  Ijiookline,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
teiubei- 4.  1S()2;  a,i;t',  1',);  niust<M'ed  out  Au,i;iist  I'd.  18(53; 
voluntiMn'cd  in  stoiauiui;-  pai-ty  at  Port  Hudson,  La., 
undei' (TeiHual  Older  4*,),  .Line  IT),  1868;  P.  O.  address 
Townsend,  Mass. 

George  H.  Carter,  boiii.  Ti-oy,  \t.  ;  enlisted  ()<'tol)er 
25,  1S')2;  a^'e,  18;  niustei'ed  out  August  20,  lSi53  ;  re- 
enliste(i  ill    (\»iui)aiiy  h\    Tliirtpeiith    Pegiiiieiit  \'.   H.  (J. 

Alvan  B.  Chase,  |  Ah  iiii  I'.  Chase  in  Adj.  Gen's  report] 
horn,  Millluiry,  Mass.;  enlisted  September  f),  1862;  a,i;(% 
40;  miist(^i-ed  out  August  20,  1863. 

Frank  B.  Clark,  born,  Milford,  N.  II.  ;  (-nlistcd  S(-[)- 
tcniber  1,  J8(52;  age,  23;  died  .liine  22,  18(53,  at  I'aton 
Rouge,  La. 


408 


HISTORY    OF    THE    fiTXTp:ENTH    KEGTMENT 


^corffc  ,^ ,    Crcii//ifon. 


George  L.  Creighton  was  borii  in  Mason,  N.  H.,  in 
1848.  He  worked  on  tlie  fai'ni  simuners  and  attended 
iniblic  scliools  in  the  winter,  lie  enlisted  September  1), 
1862,  as  a  i)rivate  in  ('oinpaiiy  C,  and  was  discharged  at 
New  Orleans,  La.,  on  the  seventeenth  of  Jnly,  18(58,  on 
snrgeon's  certihcate  of  disability. 

He  took  passage  for  New  York  on  the  mail  steamer 
]\roniiii(/  Si(n\  whicdi  was  wi-ecked  on  the  New  Jersey 
coast,  the  passengers  and  crew,  however,  reaching  shoi'e 
in  the  life  boats.  After  remaining  near  the  wreck  for 
ten  days,  he  secured  transportation  to  New  York,  thence 


NEW   iiA:\rpsTiTT;7-:  Y<n.rNTEEi;s.  400 

lioiiit-  Id  Miisoii,  X.  II.,  ;irri\iii.u'  August  19.  lie  is  a 
meinlii'i-  of  Iv  \'.  Suimiei-  Post  No.  ID,  l)('i)aitiiiHiit  of 
Mnssncliiisclts,  (1.  A.  II.  llesides  in  Nati<'k,  Mass.,  and 
is  l)\   occupation  a  ui'ocm". 

J()sc])h  S.  Convey,  horn,  Mctlincn,  Mass.;  enlisted 
Se[)tt'inl)cj' ;;,  IS!):::?;  age,  20;  mustered  out  August  20, 
IS(;:5. 

Williiiiu  P.  Conrey,  liorn,  (loslien,  N.  IT.  ;  enlisted 
8ei)tend)ei-  8,  Im;2;  age,  44;  died  May  10,  ISOH,  at 
Braslieai-  ( 'it y.   La. 

Allen  T.  Crosby,  Ix.ni.  Milford,  N.  U.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)ei-  IS,  IS02;  age,  18;  died  A  ngust  20,  1808,  at  Mil- 
ford,  N.  }I. 

Cluirlcs  H.  Crosby,  hoiii.  Mil  ford.  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Novendx')'  17,  1802;  age,  ]'.);  mustered  out  August  20, 
180:5;    P.  ().  addiess  Mancliestei-,  N.  II. 

/.  Frank  CrosJ>y,  l)oin.  Milford,  N.  ?T.  ;  enlisted  8ep- 
tend)er  H,  18()2  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  18();)  ; 
P.  ().  addiess  Mancliest.'i-,  N.  II. 

Joseph  Cnshing,  born,  (*anada  ;   eidisted  8eptend)er  1,  . 
1802  ;  age,  4:>  ;   mustered  out  August  20,  180o;  died  April 
12,   1871),  at  Milfoi-d,  N.  H. 

James  R.  Dnseombe,  born,  Wilton,  X.  II.  ;  eidisted 
lSei)t<unber  27,  180)2;  age,  :52  ;  appointed  cor[ioral  .lune 
:!(),  I8(;:!;  mustei'ed  out  Augirst2<»,  180;)  ;  died  Decemlxu' 
JU,  181)2,  at   Wilton,  N.  II. 

Lneinn  A.  Duneklee,  born,  Milford,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted 
lSei)tember  1,  1802;  age,  18;  (liscliai-g<nl  to  date  August 
20,  180:5;  died  Augirst  2:5,  180;j,  at  Mattoon,  111. 


410  HTSTOTJY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Dexter  J.  Farley,  lK>rn.  Hollis,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
August  2!),  18(')2  ;  age,  18;  mustered  out  August  20, 
186H  ;   died  .luue  1<>,  187."),  at  Hollis,  N.  H. 

Elbridge  C.  Frye,  l)oi'n,  Wilton,  N.  11.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 28,  18G2  ;  age,  19;  died  July  1(3,  186B,  New 
Oi'leans,  L'.i. 

Junies  G.  Fuller,  l)oiii,  (IosIkmi,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 8,  ]8(i2;  age,  18;  died  June  6,  1868,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

William  Gnivin,  l^oin,  Iivland  ;  enlisted  September 
2'J,  18()2  ;  age,  B,")  ;   mustered  out  August  20,  18()8. 

Mdwnrd  Gerald,  Ixuii,  P)os('owen,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
October  14,  18()2  ;  age,  44;  discharged  May  (5,  1808,  at 
New  York  City. 

Charles  B.  Gorham,  born.  Mason,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Septend)er  2,  1802;  age,  18;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868;  P.  O.  address  Turner,  111. 

George  R.  Hartshorn,  l)or]i.  Mason,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Sei)teml)ei'  1,  18(52;  age,  21  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868;  P.  ().  address  Milford,  N.  H. 

J  Wood  Hastings,  l)oin,  Newbury,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Septeud)er  12,  1862;  age,  21);  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868  ;  P.  O.  Address  Minnea})olis,  Minu. 

Amos  HerrJek,  Ixu'n,  Weston,  A^t.  ;  eulisted  Sei)teui- 
b.u-  26,  1862:  age,  48;  died  June  17,  18(38,  at  New 
Orleans,   La. 

Allen  R.  Hood,  born,  Deering,  N.  11.  :  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)er  10,  1862  ;  age,  20  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868  ; 
P.  O.  address  East  Lempster,  N.  H. 


NEW    IIAMPyillKP:    VOLTNTEKKS.  411 

Edwin  B.  Howard,  born,  INfilford,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Sei)teiiibei  12,  ]8()2  ;  ntie,  22;  mustered  out  August  2o, 
18(58;   P.  ().  address  Reno,  Nev. 

Justin  H.  Hutchinson,  [name  Justin  llutcliiiison  in 
Adjt.  (len's  report]  l.oin,  Milford,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)er  fi,  1802  ;  age,  25  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1803;   }\  O.  addivss  Milford,  N.  H. 

Sylvnnus  Hutchinson,  born, Wilton,  IN'.  H.  ;  enlisted 
October  2,  bS()2  ;  age,  ;^()  ;  discharged  June  25,  1868,  at 
Concoid,  N.  H.  ;   P.  ().  address  Wilton,  N.  H. 

Thomas  Jackson,  })()vu,  Pennsylvania  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
teiid)ei'  12,  1802  ;  age,  27  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  18(58  ; 
P.  ().  address  Mason,  N.  H. 

Alvin  A.  JeweUy  born,  Groton,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember lo,  1802  ;  age,  19  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ; 
V.  ().  address  Woonsocket,  R.  T. 

Hlhridgc  K.  Jcwctt,  boin,  'IVmide,  N.  IT.  ;  enlisted 
September  1,  1802  ;  age,  25  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
18(58;  P.  O.  address  Milford,  N.  II. 

Daniel  Kendall,  born.  Mason,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)er  15,  1802  ;  age,  85  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  18(58  ; 
P.  ().  address  ]^>rookline,  N.  H. 

Nathan  F.  Kendall,  born.  Mount  Vernon,  N.  IT.  ; 
enlisted  Se})tend)er  15,  18(52;  age,  21  ;  died  August  J  5, 
1868,  at  (Concord,  N.  II. 

Orvan  B.  Keyes,  born,  Hancock,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Sejjt. 
17,  1802;  age,  18;  died  August  21,  18(i8,  at  Mound  City,  111. 

Corydon  D.  Keyes,  l)orn,  Hancock,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted 
September  20,  1802;  nge,  87;  died  Ju.ne  27,  1808,  at 
Baton  Rouge,  La. 


412  HISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Mnrshall  Kimball,  born,  Mason.  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 9,  1862  ;  age,  30  ;  mustered  out  Augnst  20,  1863  ; 
P.  O.  address  Greenville,  N.  H. 

James  Landers,  born  Ireland  ;  enlisted  September  1, 
1862  ;  age,  31  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ;  died  Jan- 
nary  15,  1893,  at  Wilton,  N.  H. 

Benjamin  G.  Livingston,  born,  Sharon,  Mass.  ;  en- 
listed Septend)er  13,  1862  ;  age,  32  ;  mnstered  out  Ang- 
nst  20.  1863  ;  P.  O.  address  Greenville,  N.  H. 

Noah  Lnnd,  born,  Hollis,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Septeuiber 
1,  1862  ;  age  21  ;   died  June  5,  1863,  at  Baton  Rouge,  La. 

James  A.  Merrill,  ])nrn,  Corintli,  Yt.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 3,  1862  ;  age,  26  ;  mustered  out  Augnst  20,  1863  ; 
P.  O.  address  20  Stark  street,  Nashua,  N.  H. 

Charles  W.  Mills,  born,  Milford,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 2,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  mnstered  out  August  20,  1863; 
died  August  23.  1863,  at  Milford.  N.  H. 

Charles  H.  Osgood,  born,  Milford,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  1,  1862;  age,  19;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863 ;  P.  O.  address  408  Boyleston  street,  Fitchburg, 
Mass. 

Milton  L.  Osgood,  l)orii,  Milford,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
teml)er  1,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;    mustered  out  August  20.  1863. 

Samuel  A.  Putnam,  [S.  Aljbott  Putnam  iu  Adj.  Gen's 
report]  born  Wilton,  N.  II. ;  enlisted  September  2,  1862; 
age,  22  ;  discharged  to  date  August  20,  1863  ;  P.  ().  ad- 
dress 87  Elm  Street,  Charlestown,  Mass. 

Samuel  S.  Reed,  l)orn,  A<'ton,  Mass.;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 9,  1862  ;  age  28;  disehai'ged  December  15,  1862  at 
New  York  City  ;  P.  O.  address  Littleton  CoiPJuOJi^  ISfass. 


NEW    7IA]>[]»SIT1ME    VOLirNTEEUS.  413 

David  RoJ)hiiis,  born.  Mason,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Se])- 
tember  18,  ISC):);  aiie,  44;  innstered  out  Aui^iist  20, 
18(;8  ;   died  March  (S,   ISDC. 

Granville  Roh1)ins,  l)oi'n,  Mason,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Novenil)»'i-  17.  IS():2;  age,  40;  discharged  June  27,  1868, 
at  New  Oilcans,  La. 

Horace  W.  Rohhins,  l)oiii,  N(dson.  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Septend)crl,  1<S()2;  age.  II);  mustered  out  August  20, 
18()8  ;  P.  ().  address  84  NaUcy  street,  Keene,  N.  H. 

LyiUcin  h.  Saunders,  l)orii.  Mason,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Septend)cr  lO,  1802;  age,  18;  died  May  4,  1868,  at 
Biashear  City,  La. 

Daniel  W.  Smith,  born  ]'>rookline,  N.  FT.  ;  enlisted 
Novenil)er  18.  b8(;2  ;  age,  22  ;  dis(diarged  May  f),  1868  ; 
died  May  I  1,  18(;8.  at  s«'a. 

Nathaniel  Smith,  born,  Nelson.  N.  IL  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 18,  1862;  age,  44;  died  ,lune  21,  1868,  at  New 
Orleans.  La. 

Henry  C.  Stinison,  boiii.  Mil  ford.  N.  IL  ;  enlisted 
Sei)tember  1,  1862;  age,  81  ;  mustered  ont  August  20, 
1868  ;  died  August  27,   bS()8,  at  Milford,  N.  II. 

Samuel  H.  Wheeler,  l)orn,  Masou,  N.  H.  ;  eidisted 
September  17,  1862;  age,  44;  mustered  out  August  20, 
186)8;   died  :\laich   IT).  1881),  at  Mascm,  N.   H. 

Mareine  H.  Whiteomh,  boiii.  Ik<-ading,  Vt.  ;  enlisted 
Septembci'  12.  186)2;  age,  24;  mustered  out  Angust  20, 
1868;    W  O.  a(hlress  llolyoke,   Mass. 

Stillman  C.  White,  born.  Mount  \'eriu)n,  N.  H.  ; 
enlisted  Seittembei-  \,  b'^62  ;  age,  2;!;  mustered  out 
August  20,  1868);  died  February  28,  1868.  at  Lowell,  Mass. 


414  HISTORY    OF    THE    STXTEETSTTH    REGIMENT 

George  B.  Wright,  born,  Mill'ord,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  2,  1862 ;  age,  21);  died  August  2,  180H,  at 
Natchez,  Miss 

John  Wright,  born,  Boston,  jSIass.  ;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 1,  1862;  age,  43;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863; 
died  Columbia,  N.  II.,  within  a  few  years. 

Albion  Wynian,  boin.  Chatham,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 16,  1862  ;  age,  33  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ; 
P.  O.  address  North  Fryebm-g,  Me. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  D. 


Cajifain    &ar>tc/  o".     ^^ijujcitd. 


Captain  Daniel  B.  Howard,  born,  Grantliam,  N.  H,  ; 
enlisted  October  18,  1862  ;  age,  27  ;  mustered  out  August 
20,  1863;  P.  O.  address  Concord,  N.  H. 

Pirst  Lieutenant  Charles  H.  Herbert,  born,  (-oncord, 
N.  IT.  ;  enlisted  Octobf-i-  18,  1862  ;  age,  80.  lie  had  pre- 
viously served  as  a  nienil)erof  tlie  New  Hani]tsliire  legis- 
latui'H  in  the  years  ]86(t  mid  18(;i.  Immediately  after 
the  session  of  sixty-one  had  adjourned  he  oi)ened,  a 
recrniting  office  for  several  different  regiments. 

AVhen  the  Sixteenth  IJegiment  was  called  for  he  raised 
almost  a  full   coin  pan}',  and  wis  chosen  captain   by  its 


416 


HTSTOKY    OF    TTIE    ftlXTEEXTII    llEGIMENT 


.y'/rsf  ^I'eut.    C/mr/cs  ,^.    ^fsrdorf. 


members,  but  declined  the  honor,  and  Captain  Howard 
took  connnand  of  tlie  ('()ni])any.  Pie  then  accepted  a 
commission  as  lirst  lieutenant  aud  acted  as  commissary 
of  the  regiment  while  in  Concord.  On  the  arrival  of  the 
regiment  in  New  York,  he  was  detailed  to  receive  com- 
missary stores  for  the  vessels  loading  for  the  Banks' 
Expedition  at  the  Novelty  Iron  AVorks  at  tlie  foot  of 
Twelfth  and  'I'liiiteeiitli  streets.  lie  went  with  part  of 
the  regiment  on  tlie  EaHtern  Queen  to  Camj)  Parapet, 
above  New  Orleans,  and  was  there  a  short  time  when  he 
was  ordered  to  report  to  General  Sherman  for  duty  in  the 


NKW    IT A:\rPSTTTr.T]    VOLrNTKKTIS.  417 

Deparhnent  of  fliH  (lull',  receiving  a  promotion  to  A.  C 
S.,  with  the  rank  of  ('a])t:iin  United  States  \^)liinteers. 
He  nevei'  rejoined  his  reiiinient  but  continued  to  serve 
the  arin\  until  May  1.  IHC)").  Tlis  con) mission  was  signed 
V)y  President  Lincoln.  His  P.  O.  address  is  Concord, 
N.  H. 

Second  Lieutenant  Robert  S.  Davis,  born,  Concord, 
N.  H.;  enlisted  October  13,  1862;  age,  '21;  promoted  to 
first  lieutenant  January  20,  1863,  l)ut  was  not  mustered 
in  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ;  died  October  24, 
1876,  at  West  Concord,  N.  H. 

Pirst  Sergeant  Charles  T.  Summers,  l)orn,  Norfolk, 
Ya.;  enlisted  September  27,  1862;  age,  27;  mustered 
out  August  20,  1863  ;  P.  O.  address  Concord,  N.  H. 

Second  Sergeant  Frank  P.  Hall,  born.  Concord,  N. 
H.;  enlisted  September  15,  1862;  age,  22;  promoted  to 
second  lieutenant  January  20,  1863  ;  w^as  not  mustered 
in  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ;  P.  O.  address  Pleas- 
anton,  Kans. 

Third  Sergeant  Nathan  M.  Dow,  born.  Concord,  N. 
H.;  enlisted  September  3,  1862  ;  age,  23  ;  mustered  out 
August  20,  1863  ;  died  October  27,  1863,  at  West  Con- 
cord, N.  H. 

Fourth  Sergeant  Augustus  Barnard,  l)()rn,  Haverhill, 
Mass.,  enlisted  October  15,  1862  ;  age,  2U  ;  mustered  out 
August  20,  1863  ;  died  December  16,  1863,  at  Hopkin- 
ton,  N.  H. 

Fifth  Sergeant  Andrew  J.  Holmes,  born,  Plopkinton, 
N.  H.;  enlisted  September  14,  1862  ;  age,  36  ;  transferred 
to  Company  B,  Seventeenth  New  nami)shire  \\)lunteers, 


418  HISTORY    OF    TltE    sIXTKKNTH    HEGIMENT 

Novenil)er  15,  1,S62  ;  transferred  to  Con)x:)any  C  ;  must- 
ered out  April  16,  1.S68. 

First  Corpornl  Moses  T.  Stone,  boru,  Grnntliaui,  N. 
H  ;  enlisted  October  4,  1<S6'2  ;  a,<;e,  'J7  ;  promoted  to  ser- 
geant :   mustered  out  August  20,  1(S68. 

Second  Corpornl  Willinni  H.  Orne,  born,  Orange, 
Vt.;  enlisted  Septeml)er  4,  1<S62  ;  age,  82;  mustered  out 
August  20,  1868  ;  died  Januai-y  5,  1874.  at  West  Con- 
cord. N.  H. 


-.1^ 

''M: 


xi-:\r  i[A>rpsmi;i-:  vou'xtekus. 


419 


(J^A/rc/  Corpora/  '7//aii/cinc/  C    ,=^a/7iprcj/. 


Third  Corporal  Maitland  C.  Lamprey  at  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war  was  pursuing  liis  studies  at  Dartmouth 
College.  As  W  was  genernlly  supposed  at  the  time  that 
the  war  wouM  be  over,  if  not  in  sixty  days,  certainly 
within  a  year  at  the  farthest.  He  hesitated  h)ng  before 
gi\'iiig  up  liis  colh'g*'  ('(tui'se.      ()ne  Satui'(hiy  nioi'uing  at 


gi\'iiig  up  liis  colh'g*'  ('(tui'se 
tliH  l)ieakfast  table  (  llii 


is  was  neai'  t1i<^  (dose  (d'  liis  duni(U- 


tliH  l)it';ikhist  table  ( I  his  was  neai'  th<^  (dose  (d'  his  d  uni(U• 
Veal•)  ( liei-e  was  show  11  him  a  eopy  of  the  lios/oii  Joii ntaJ, 
which  coiitaiued  the  name  of  his  l)rotlier  Horace  among 
the  mortally  woiiikUmI.  Wc  (piolc  at  this  point  from 
his  own  account  of  what  followed: 


•"  '.'     "  '■•       "  "    '1" 

his  own  account  of  what  followec 


4'i()  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

"I  could  hesitate  no  longer,  but  went  to  my  room, 
packed  uiy  trunk  and  then  waited  upon  President  Lord 
to  notify  him  of  my  intention  to  take  up  the  fallen 
musket  and  till  out  my  brother's  term  of  enlistment  in 
Company  B,  of  the  Second  New  Hampshire  Regiment,  in 
fighting  Joe  Hooker's  brigade. 

"  Before  noon  I  was  at  home  in  Concord  and  informed 
my  family  of  my  intention.  For  weeks  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  learn  whether  my  brother  was  dead  or  a  prisoner, 
and  wdien  there  was  no  longer  any  doubt  of  his  fate,  I 
decided  to  enlist  in  one  of  the  nine  months'  regiments, 
though  I  had  no  thought  of  quitting  the  army  until  the 
war  was  over.  I  fully  intended  to  earn  promotion  if 
possible  and  opportunity  was  offered,  but  how  differently 
things  turned  out.  Instead  of  an  opportunity  of  earning 
X>romotion,  we  were  located  in  the  swamp  and  compelled 
to  breathe  the  malai-ia,  which  i3roved  more  fatal  than 
rebel  bullets.  Until  after  our  sojourn  at  Butte  a  la  Rose, 
I  never  lost  a  day  from  sickness,  but  was  never  well 
afterwards.  Fever  and  ague,  swamp  or  malarial  fever 
and  dysentery  followed  until  I  had  little  hope  of  seeing 
home  again.  I  have  never  doubted,  that  another  Aveek 
there  would  have  proved  my  last.  When  hope  was 
nearly  gone,  word  came  that  we  weie  to  start  the  next 
day  and  this  gave  me  courage  to  undertake  the  long  voy- 
age home.  For  weeks  it  seemed  a  losing  fight,  but  a 
naturally  strong  constitution  brought  me  through. 

''After  recovering  sufficiently  to  undertake  any  serious 
occupation,  1  decided  to  adopt  teaching  as  a  profession 
and    have   s[)ent   my   life   in    the   schoolroom,    with   the 


NEW    HAMP.STIIRE    VOLUNTEERS.  421 

exce])fi<)ii  of  <>iie  yeai-  (liii'iiiii'  wliicli  T  I'ested.  I  l;ni,s;lit 
tirsf  :\t  Mai'slialltowii,  tlieii  Kiioxville  and  P)l(»()iiili<'l(l, 
Iowa,  in  the  state  normal  school  Eni[)oria,  Kaiis.,  in  the 
South  J^ei'wick  Academy,  Soiitli  Berwick,  Me.,  in  Ells- 
worth, Me.,  Kocliestei',  N.  H.,  liii-li  schools,  and  the  last 
twenty  years  in  North  Kaston,  Mass.,  as  principal  oi"  the 
Easton  Hi^h  School. 

"My  joniney  home  from  Port  Hndson  has  always 
seemed  to  in<'  like  a  dream.  1  had  been  suffering  in- 
tensely for  eiiilit  days  with  intiamation  of  the  bowels  and 
had  made  up  my  mind  that  1  couhl  not  live  more  than 
forty-eiuht  hours,  when  the  news  came  that  we  were  to 
start  foi-  home  at  nine  o'clock  the  next  day.  Those 
twelve  days  seemed  ages  and  when  1  leached  Concord,  I 
could  not  remember  of  having  closed  my  eyes  in  sleep 
during  the  entire  journey. 

''1  was  selected  as  unable  to  travel  after  reaching 
Vicksburg  and  ordered  to  be  left  at  the  floating  hospital, 
bnt  begged  oft',  as  1  knew  that  my  only  hope  was  in  get- 
ting home  and  having  careful  nursing.  The  doctor 
urged  me  to  I'PP^y  f**i'  ''^  pension,  after  1  had  recovered, 
telling  me  that  there  were  adhesions  which  would 
trouble  me,  but  1  have  never  received  any  pension  as  yet. 

Fourth  Corporal  George  Noyes,  l)orn,  Atkinson,  N. 
H.  ;  enlisted  Septend)er  15,  1862;  age,  44;  mustered 
out  Augnst  20.  ISC);^  ;    P.  ().  address  Manchester,  N.  H. 

Fifth  Corp'l  Thos.  Keniston,  born,  Woodbury,  \'t.; 
enlisted  Oct.  1,  1S(')2;  age,  42;  appointed  acting  <diai)lain 
June?,  \Si')?)^  to  serve  in  absence  of  Chai)lain  Mauley;  mus- 
tered out  Aug.  20,1803;  P.O. address  New  Hampton,  N.ll. 


4-22  HISTOIIY    OF    TTIK    SIXTEENTH    HEGIMENT 


Sixth  Corporal  Gilninn  H.  Diinond  was  born  in 
West  Concord,  N.  H.,  Marcli  31,  1844.  He  enlisted  Sep- 
rember  5,  18C2,  as  a  private  in  Company  D,  Sixteenth 
Regiment,  and  was  appointed  corporal,  serving  the  fnll 
period  of  his  enlishneiit.  lie  le-enlisted  Angnst  29, 
18(54,  in  a  company  of  unattached  Heavy  Artillery,  after- 
waids  Conii)any  E,  Fiist  Regiment,  New  llam]>sliire 
Heavy  Artillery,  serving  in  the  'I'wenty-second  Aiiny 
Corps  until  the  close  of  the  wai-.  He  has  served  four 
terms  as  deputy  sheritf  for  Menima(dv  County,  also  two 
years  as  a  member  of  the  city  government,  and  has  held 


NEW    HAMPSiriKE    VOLUNTEERS.  428 

other  loral  offices.  TTc  is  a  iiieinber  of  Horace  Chase 
L(t(li':e  No.  72,  F.  and  A.  M.  ;  also  a  ineiiilx'i'  of  CJontoo- 
cook  Ijodoe  No.  20,  1.  ().  ().  F.,  at  IN^iiacook,  and  is 
master  of  Peiiacook  Park  (iianiie  No.  1S4,  at  West  Cor.- 
cord.  He  is  past  commander  of  Doiiis  Post  No.  44, 
J)e[)artment  of  New  Ham})sliire  (1.  A.  R.  ;  is  a  farmer, 
and  resides  at  AVest  Concord,  N.  H. 

Seventh  Covpornl  (reorge  W.  Mills,  born,  Hopkin- 
ton,  11  H.;  enlisted  October  U,  1(S62;  aae,  2o  ;  mnstered 
out  Aii.unst  20,  LS68  ;  P.  O.  address  Hopkinton,  N.  H. 

Highth  Covpornl  Joel  Cushiui*,  \.]n*^\  A.  Cuslion  is 
til*'  name  ,i;iven  in  Adj.  (Ten's  rejtort]  boivn.  Lyman,  N. 
H.  ;  enlisted  October  21,  1S62  ;  ai>:e,  89;  mnstered  ont 
Aiignst  20,  l.S(')8;   P.  O.  address  Marlow,  N.  H. 

Miisieiiin  Otis  M.  Brown,  l)orn,  Ho[dvinton,  N.  H.  ; 
enlisted  Octobei- 8.  lSt)2  ;  a_i;e,  88;  mnstei'ed  ont  An,unst 
20;  1S()8;    P.  O.  addivss  Manchester,   N.  H. 

Musieiiin  Jneoh  Whittier,  l)orn,  Danville,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed Octol)er  14,  1S(32  ;  age,  42  ;  died  Angnst  1<S,  1S68, 
at  Hoi)kinton,  N.  H. 

Wcigoner  Newlon  G.  MeAlpine,  l)orn.  Hopkinton,  N. 
H.;  enlisted  October  18.  1862;  age,  26;  discharged  to 
date  Aniiiist  20,  1S68. 


l'i:i\' A'l'ES. 

Z/tn-y  C\  .4/>/>off,  born,  ("oncoi'd.  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)ei-  i:>.  1S(')2  ;  age,  IS;  died  Ajn'il  2<S,  1S68,  at  New- 
Orleans,  La. 


424  HISTOEY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 


^         "« 


S^,c/iarcf   7if.    J^//en. 


Richard  W.  Allen  was  hovn  in  Wobnrn.  Mass.,  in 
the  year  1841.  In  his  letter  to  tlie  historian  lie  repoi'ts 
tlial  lie  aided  in  recruiting  the  b'ourteenth,  Firteenth 
and  Sixteenth  regiments  ;  lie,  enlisting  ()('tol)er  8,  1862. 
at  Newport,  N.  H.,  as  a  member  of  the  l)and.  He  served 
the  entire  period  of  enlistment  and  was  mustered  ont 
with  the  regiment  at  Concord,  N.  H.  He  was  engaged 
in  commercial  pursuits  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  until  1868, 
when  he  removed  to  Detroit,  .Mich.,  engaging  in  real  es- 
tate and  brokerage  l)usiness  in  which  he  has  met  with 
success. 

j\rr.  Allen  is  the  author  of  quite  an  entertaining  story 
of  his  service  with  the  Sixteentli  Regiment,  ivcently 
published  in  the  Indianapolis  TriJ>inie  from  which  we 
have  (juoted  an  account  of  two  expeditions  giving  him 
credit  for  the  same.      He  noAv  resides  at  Detroit,  iMich. 


NEW    HAiMPSllIUE    Vt)LUNTEERS.  425 

William  P.  Ames,  born,  Tamwortli,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  TO,  iS()2  ;  age,  'A2  ;  nuistered  out  August  20, 
1868. 

Cliarles  E.  Ash,  born,  llopkinton,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
()('t()l)Pi-  10.  1S02;  age,  18;  died  February  15,  1803,  at 
New  Orleans,  La. 

Alvali  Atwood,  boi-n,  AVilmot,  N.  11.;  enlisted  October 
18,  1802  :  age,  2;")  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1803  ;  P.  O. 
address  East  Concord,  N.  H. 

Charles  H.  Austin,  Ixn'n,  Concord,  N.  H.  ;  (Milisted 
Sei)teml)er  1(5,  18(52;  age,  22;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1803;  P.  ().  address  Lowell,  Mass. 

Josiah  M,  Bailey,  [Josiali  L.  Bailey  is  the  name  given 
in  Adjt.  (len's  report]  born,  Stanstead,  Canada  ;  enlisted 
October  20,  1802  ;  age,  44  ;  died  January  7,  1803. 

James  A.  Baker,  born,  Dunbartou,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
October  14,  1802  ;  age  2o  ;  died  Apiil  14,  1803,  at  Bra- 
shear  City,  La. 

Jefferson  Barnes,  born,  Eoyalton,  Vt.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 13,  18(53  ;  age,  43  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1803. 

Joseph  R.  Boiieher,  born,  Montreal,  Canada;  enlisted 
October  0,  18(52  ;  age,  19  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1803  ; 
P.  O.  address  Tilton.  N.  H. 

James  C.  Breed,  born,  Sharon,  Vt.  ;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber In,  18(52;  age,  21  ;  discharged  to  date  August  20, 
1803 ;  deceased. 


420  TITSTOIIY    ()V    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 


tSauiiic/  v/.    yj/otiin, 

Samuel  iV.  Brown,  son  of  John  S.,  and  Sopliie  C. 
[Drown  I  I)i()\vii,  was  boiii  al  lioscawcn,  N.  IT.,  July  17, 
1844.  (Graduated  from  I  lie  New  London  Literai'y  and 
Seientitif  Institution  in  IS('iL\  SulisccjneMit  to  liis  service 
in  the  Sixteenth  Rei;iiiienl .  lie  <-iilisted  as  a  piix  ate  in 
Conijjaiiy  1).  lM',ulit(-enr h  New  llanii)sliire.  Se})tend)ei' 0, 
18(;4,  and  was  mustiMed  in  September  14,  1804.  lie  was 
pronn)ted  to  quartermastei-  seiucant  November  1,  1804, 
and  was  mustered  out  .Iniie  lo,  bsinl.  He  resides  at 
Penacook,  N.  II.,  and  is  at  [)resent  i-eiiister  of  deeds  for 
Mei-riniack  County,  liavinu'  lille(l  that  oftice  since  April 
1,  181)8.  He  married  Lncy  I*.  Kilbniii  l)ecend)er  :?,  1807, 
and  has  one  dauiihter,  Alice  Fi'ances. 


NEW    HAMPSIIIKE    YOLTTNTEEKS.  427 

Bradford  M.  Burnhniu,  [Bradford  Biirnhani  2d  is 
name  uiven  in  Adj.  (jen's  import]  born,  New  Gloncester. 
Me.  ;  enlisted  Septendiei-  8,  1862  ;  a,ii,e,  21  ;  mustered  out 
Aun-ust  20,  1S68;  1'.  O.  address  l)nnl)arton,  N.  H. 

Reuben  D.  Biiswell,  l)<»rn.  Concord,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Sei)tend)er  10,  l,S62;  a.iie,  87;  died  June  22,  1.S68,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Orrin  Chase,  born,  ll()]dvinton,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Octo- 
ber 1 4,  1<S62;  a,i;e,  U)  1 20  in  Adj.  (len's  report];  dis- 
charged to  date  August  20,  1868;  P.  O.  address  Contoo- 
cook,  N.  H. 

Dennis  Coakley,  born  Walpole,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  No- 
vemV)er  4,  1<S62  ;  age,  21  ;  deserted  Novend^er  4,  1S62. 


>^ 


428 


HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 


^corrrc 


Cf .     Cr 


George  U.  Crowcll  was  boni  at  Mancliester  (by  the  Sea) 
]\rass.,  Septeiiil)er  21),  1S;U,  and  at  the  a,£;"e  of  two  3'ears 
was  talven  l)y  his  })ai'eiits  to  Ilojjlviiitoii.  N.  H.  He 
enlisted  in  Company  I),  Sixteentli  l^euinient,  and  served 
witli  liis  company  until  mustered  out.  Soon  afterwards 
he  I'emoved  to  I'l-atth'ljoi'o.Vt..  and  enii'ag'ed  in  journalism 
becoming  the  ownci-  of  7//c  IIoiiic^IcikL  He  lias  been 
closely  identified  with  all  matters  of  pu1)lic  interest  in 
his  adoi)ted  hoiiu'.  and  has  by  lilx'i-ality  and  business 
CM  pacity  l)ecome  one  of  \  ermont's  fore'inost  men.  He  is 
jiow  engaged  in  seveJ-aJ  liusiness  enter])rises,  and  is  pi'esi- 


NEW     IIAMI'.SIIIUE    VOLUNTEEES.  429 

denf  of  file  E.  P.  C;u'])enter  Conipaiiy.  P.  ().  addiess 
Prattlt'hoio,  Vt. 

George  J^.  Crumniett,  boi-ii,  Concord,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted 
iSe[)tenil)er  17,  I8()"i;  age,  18;  niiistered  out  AiigiLst  20. 
1808;    P.  O.  address  228  Mieliigan  avenue,  Chicago,  111. 

George  A.  Currier,  born,  Hopkinton,  N.  11.;  enlisted 
October  H,  18(32;  age,  IS;   died  August  20,  1868. 

George  H.  dishing,  [George  11.  Cuslion,  in  Adj.  (len's 
report]  boi-n  Boscawen,  N.  11.;  enlisted  October  21,  1862; 
age,  18:  discharged  for  disabilities  December  26,  1862, 
at  New  York  Oity  ;  P.  ().  address,  Manchester,  N.  11. 

Nathaniel  W.  Dnvis,hov\\^  Loudon,  N.  11.;  enlisted 
September  12.  186)2  :  age,  19;  discharged  December  5, 
1862,  at  New  York  (^ity. 

Charles  W.  7>>i/i7077f/,  born.  Concord,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
October  28,  1862  ;  age.  20  ;   niiistered  out  August  20,  1868. 

Ira  K.  Diniond,  Ixu-n  C'oncoid,  N.  II.;  enlisted  October 
13,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August  20.  1868. 

Hbin  H.  Dustin,  boiii,  Hopkinton,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Octol)er  ](),  1862  ;  age,  44  ;  died  May  6,  1868,  at  Baton 
Rouge.  La. 

Alfred  Hlliott,  \nnu,  Hoscawen,  N.  11.;  enlisted  Se])- 
tend)erir),  1862  ;  age,  27  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868  ; 
died  July  20,  1898,  at  Penacook.  N.  IL 

George  B.  Hlliott,  l)oiii,  Conccn-d,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
November  18.  18()2  ;  age,  18  ;  discharged  to  date  August 
20,  1868;   P.  O.  address,  Penacook,  N.  IL 

HallF.  Hlliott,])uru,  Coiicoi-d,  N.  11.;  enlisted  October 
24,  18(')2;  age,  44;  mustered  out  August  ^0,  18<>8  ;  died 
August  80,  18(58,  at  Concord,  N.  II. 


430  HISTORY    OP^    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

James  C.  HlHott,  Jr.,  ])(nn,  dmcord,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
November  8,  1802  ;  age,  21  ;  died  July  27.  1H68,  at  Port 
Hudson,  La. 

John  H.  Elliott,  born,  Concord,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
October  24,  1802;  age,  18;  ninstered  out  August  20,  1808  ; 
died  August  22,  1803,  at  Concord.  N.  II. 

LfCwis  B.  Elliott,  born,  Concoid,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
October  30,  1802;  agp,  28  ;  died  August  19,  l.s0)3,  at  New 
York  City. 

Hanson  D.  hnierson,  l)orn,  Ilopkinton,N.  H.;  enlisted 
October  13,  1802;  age,  18;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1803;   P.  ().  address  Contoocook,  N.  H. 

Asa  Emery,  l)oiii,  Concord,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  October 
24,  1802  ;  age,  10  ;  dischai'ged  to  date  August  20,  1803  ; 
P.  O.  address  Taur.ton.  Mass. 


NEW    irAMI'SlIIUE    VoLUNTEEKS. 


481 


,^n  c^ro  11^    O.     ^ 


ci  rn  u  fn , 


Andrew  S.  Farniiin  was  born  in  West  Concord,  N.  H., 
May  6,  1843,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm.  He  enlisted 
September  22,  1862,  in  Company  D,  Sixteenth  Regiment, 
and  served  the  full  period  of  enlistment.  He  removed 
to  East  Concord  in  1878  to  the  farm  on  which  he  now 
lives.  He  is  past  commander  of  Davis  Post  No.  44, 
Department  of  New  IIam])shire  (t.  A.  K.  P.  O.  address 
East  Concord,  N.  11. 

Jonathan  Flanders,  Jr.,  Ixtiii.  \\  (nire,  N.  11.  ;  enlisted 
September  5,  1802;  age,  2r)  ;  discliarged  to  date  August 
20,  18G8  ;  died  Novend)er  K),  1804,  at  Henniker,  N.  H. 


4o2  HISTORY    OF    THE    SlXTKKNTII    llEGIMENT 

William  H.  Flanders,  l)(>rii,  Coiicord,  N.  TI.;  enlisted 
Se|)teiiil)er    15.    JSf^i:     n.ue,   27;     mustered    <»iit    Auuiist 

Charles  I.  Hall,  born,  Coiicoi-d,  X.  II.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 18,  18(52;  age,  18;  died  July  29,  18(j:5,  nt  Port 
Hudson,  La. 

Joseph  P.  Healey,  l)orn.  Dunbaiton,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted 
Octobei-  20,  18()2;  age,  24;  mustered  out  August  20, 
18():^  ;  P.  ().  address  C'oncord,  N.  11. 


NEW    lIAISrPSiriRE    VOL[TNTEEKS. 


488 


?/  £.      JVo/.-Ze^ 


Samuel  B.  Holden,  of  Company  D,  was  born  in  West 
Concord,  N.  H.,  February  3,  1845.  He  left  his  studies 
at  tlie  New  Hanipsliire  Conference  Seminary  to  enlist  in 
the  Sixteenth,  and  served  its  full  term.  After  the  muster- 
out  he  resumed  his  educational  course,  graduating  at 
"Wesleyan  Tniversiry  in  1S(V,).  He  studied  law  with 
Minot,  Tappaii  A;  Mugiidge.  of  Concord,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  harin  Crafton  county  in  1ST"2.  He  formed 
a  law  ])artnershii:)  with  Hon.  S.  K.  Mason,  of  Bristol  ; 
was  also  treasurer  of  Bristol  Savings  ]>ank  and  ti  member 
of  the  manufacturinii'  firm  of  Holden  &  Ct). 


4H4  HisTor.Y    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    HE(4lMENT 

He  went  to  Napa,  Cal.,  in  1875,  where  lie  has  since 
been  extensively  engaged  in  mannl'acturing  and  tanning, 
being  president  of  the  Sawyer  Tanning  Company  and  of 
the  Napa  Woolen  Mill.  He  also  retained  an  interest  in 
and  is  a  director  of  the  Concord  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, of  Penacook,  N.  H.  He  is  a  member  of  the  City 
Council  in  his  adopted  home. 

His  family  consists  of  a  wife  and  three  "native  sons  of 
the  Golden  West,''  in  his  beautiful  Napa  home,  "the 
land  of  sunshine,  fruit  and  tiowers." 

Irving  A.  Hiird,  l)orn,  Claremont,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  18,  1862  ;  age,  21  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  P.  O.  address  Claremont,  N.  H. 

Vilas  H.  Irish,  born,  Colton,  N.  Y.  ;  enlisted  Novem- 
ber 15,  1862;  age,  18;  discharged  December  10,  1862,  at 
New  York  City. 

Benjamin  P.  Jolmson,  born,  Concord,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Noveuibei-  18,  1862;  age,  18;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863;  P.  O.  address  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

Joseph  G.  Jolmson,  born.  Concord,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Noveml)er  18,  1862;  age,  10;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868  ;  P.  O.  address  Manchester,  N.  H. 

Byron  H.  Kenipton,  born,  Croydon,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
October  8.  1862  ;  age,  18 ;  discharged  for  disabilities 
April  22,  1868,  at  Concord,  N.  H  ;  P.  O.  address  West 
Concord,  N.  H. 

Charles  N.  Kezer,  born,  Hopkinton,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
October  8,  1862  ;  age,  20  ;  discharged  to  date  Angust  20, 
1868  ;  died  November  7,  1891,  at  Hopkinton,  N.  H. 


NEW     IIA.MI'SIIIHE    VOLUNTEEHS.  485 

Nelson  D.  Knight,  Ixjrn,  Chester,  Vt.  ;  enlisted 
October  28,  1802;  age,  29;  mustered  out  August  2(),  18(;8; 

Chillies  W.  I.iing,  born.  Concord,  N.  11.  ;  enlisted 
Septend)er2,  1862;  age,  18;  nuistered  out  Angiist  20,  1808. 

William  D.  hoek,  born.  Concord,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
November  18,  1802;  age,  24;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1808;    P.  O.  address  Loudon,  N.  H. 

Patrick  McCarthy,  born,  Ii-elaud  ;  enlisted  November 
4,  1802  ;  age,  24  ;  deserted  Nov.  0,  1802,  at  Concord,  N.  H. 

George  McKenzie,  born,  Glasgow,  Scotland  ;  enlisted 
October  20,  1862;  age,  30;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868  ;   P.  O.  address,  Minneapolis,  Kans. 

James  O.  Merrill,  born,  Canterbury,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
November  3,  1862  ;  age,  40  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  P.  O.  address,  Chichester,  N.  H. 

James  F.  Mills,  born,  Hopkinton,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
October  9,  1862  ;  age,  21  ;  deserted  November  20,  1862  ; 
appiehended  ;  transfered  to  Company  D.  14th  N.  H.  V., 
to  serve  unexpired  term  of  enlistment  ;  died  June  29, 
1864,  at  Natchez,  Miss. 

Jacob  M.  Morrill,  hoiw,  Hopkinton,  N.  H;  enlisted 
October  6  1862  ;  age,  43  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ; 
died  October  19,  1896,  at  Hopkinton,  N.  H. 

Henry  B.  Moulton,  Ix.iii,  Hopkinton,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
October  3,  1862  ;  age,  21  ;  died  May  14,  1863,  at  Butte  a 
la  Rose,  La. 

Gerald  Perkins,  |.leiauld  Perkins  is  the  name  given 
in  Adj.  (leu's  rei)oit|  l)orn  Framingham,  Mass.  ;  enlisted 
September  19,  1862  ;  age,  39  ;  deserted  Noveml)er  1.  1862, 
at  Concord,  N.  H. 


436  TITSTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTKENTlI    r.EGlMENT 


-?f/^//i    C.    S^oifc//. 


Alvin  C.  Powell  was  born  in  Concord,  N.  H.,  July  1, 
1839.  He  enlisted  September  15,  1862,  in  Company  D, 
Sixteenth  Regiment,  and  served  the  full  term  of  enlist- 
ment. He  was  with  that  portiou  of  the  regiment  detailed 
for  <hity  on  the  gunboats,  and  i»ait  ici[)ated  iu  the  attach 
on  and  cai)tuie  of  Fort  Burton  at  Butte  a  la  Kose,  La. 
Since  the  war  he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  business 
as  a  builder  and  painter.  Is  Past  Commander  of  Davis 
Post  No.  4-4,  Department  of  New  Hampshire,  G.  A.  P., 
and  resides  at  AVest  Concord,  N.  H. 


NEW    IIAMPSIIIHE    VOLT^NTEEKS. 


4X 


fSj//ucsfor  ./K    S/^oive//. 


Sylvester  H.  Powell  was  born  in  Concord,  N.  H., 
December  4,  1845.  He  enlisted  September  13,  1862, 
in  Company  D,  Sixteenth  Regiment,  and  served  tlie 
full  period  of  enlistment.  He  weighed  but  ninety-six 
}ioiinds  when  mustered  out  August  20,  18(38.  He  was 
on  the  gunboat  (Uillioii ii,  and  participated  in  the  attack 
on  and  capture  of  Fort  I'uiton,  Butte  a  la  Hose,  La., 
being  one  of  the  first  to  enter  the  Fort  after  its  surrender. 
He  is  a  member  of  Fred.  Smith  Post,  No.  K),  Dejiart- 
ment  of  New  Hami)shire  (1.  A.  R.  He  has  resided  in 
Sunapee,  N.  H.,  since  1804. 


438  nisTOKY  OF  the  sixteenth  regiment 

Pnrkhiirst  D.  Quinihy,  [Parcliust  D.  Quiiiiby  is  the 
name  in  Adj.  Gen's  reportj  boru,  Concord,  N.  H.;  enlis- 
ted Octol)er  29,  1862  ;  age,  22  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863;  died  Marcli  21,  1877,  in  California. 

Udward  G.  Runnells,  born,  Boscawen,  N.  H.;  enlis- 
ted October  6,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  P.  O.  address  Hopkinton,  N.  H. 

David  W.  Sargent,  born,  Thornton,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  If),  1862;  age,  44;  mustei-ed  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  died  September  11,  1863,  at  Concord,  N.  H. 

Prancis  B.  Scribner,  born,  Salisbury,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
October  13,  1862;  age,  27;   mustered  out  August  20,  1863. 

Joseph  I.  Shallies,  [Shallis  is  name  given  in  Adj. 
Gen's  Report]  born,  Lebanon,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted  October 
18,  1862  ;  age,  19  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863. 

George  W.  Shepard,  born.  New  Boston,  N.  H.  ; 
enlisted  September  26,  1862  ;  age,  30  ;  died  June  2,  1863, 
at  New  Orleans,  La. 

Albert  H.  Smart,  born.  Concord,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
August  6,  1862  ;  age,  21  ;  appointed  corporal ;  mustered 
out  August  20,  1863  ;  P.  O.  address  103  E.  Maumee 
street,  Adrian,  Mich. 

David  Stevens,  born,  Loudon,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Novem- 
ber 1,  1862  ;  age,  44  ;  died  May  13,  1863,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Hiram  Stevens,  born,  Loudon,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
November  f),  1862  ;  age,  28  ;  deserted  March  13,  1863,  at 
New  York  City. 


"NTEAV    IIAMrSIIlEE    YOLFNTEERS. 


480 


S7?u/'us  9^.    Ut/ton. 


Rufus  N.  Tilton,  son  of  Rev.  Riifiis  Tiltou,  was  born 
in  Sandown,  N.  H.,  .hinnnry  18,  1840.  He  enlisted  at 
Nortlitield,  N.  H.,w]iile  a  student  in  the  New  Hampshire 
Conference  Seminary,  joined  (-ompany  I>,  Sixteenth 
New^  Hampshire  Volunteers  by  transfer  from  the  Fif- 
teenth Regiment  and  wns  assigned  to  duty  as  ward- 
master  in  the  regimental  hospital.  He  Avas  prostrated 
Avitli  fever  three  months  in  Louisiana,  but  so  fur 
recovered  as  to  rejoin  his  legiment  en  route  to  Port  Hud- 
son and  serve  with  it  until  mustered  out,  taking  charge 
of  and  caring  for  the  sick  duiing  the  joui'uey  home. 


44(»  IIISTOIIY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    RECITMENT 

lie  was  ai)p<)iiite(l  a  clerk  of  Class  1,  in  the  office  of 
the  Second  (Jomptrollei-  of  the  Ti-easury,  Washiuutoii,  D. 
C,  in  July,  ISC);"),  wliei-e  he  remained  nntil  October  1, 
18'.)4,  when  the  oihce  was  ai)()lished  by  the  Act  of  -Inly 
HI,  1804,  h'lving  risen  through  the  various  grades  to  the 
highest  in  the  classified  service. 

He  graduated  at  the  National  Univcrsy  Law  School 
and  was  adniitti^d  to  th<'  Bar  of  the  Sui)renie  Court  of 
the  District  of  C^)luud)ia  Mny  22,  1872. 

When  the  ofhce  of  Second  Coni^jtroller  was  abolished, 
he  was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  ofhce  of  the  C^omptroller 
of  the  Treasury,  whcic  he  is  now  employed  pre})aring 
decisions  in  (\'ises  of  appeal,  constrnction  of  new  laws, 
etc.,  in  matters  relating  to  claims  and  accounts  for  pay, 
l)ounty  and  other  allowances  of  the  army.  His  P.  O. 
adtlress  is  220  Second  street  northeast,  Washington,  ]).  C. 

William  H.  Upton,  born.  New  Boston,  N.  H.  ;  en- 
listed September  20,  bs62  ;  age,  20;  died  February  18, 
1868,  at  Carrollton,  La. 

Daniel  B.  Webster,  \n)vw,  Weston,  Vt.  ;  enlisted  No- 
vember 18,  1862  ;  age,  44  ;  died  Ainil  27.  1868,  at  Brashear 
City,  La. 

Brackett  B.  Weeks,  h()\\\,  Hopkinton,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
October  ',),  1862  ;  age,  2r)  ;  died  June  10,  1868,  at  New 
Orleans,  L;i. 

Cogswell  N.  Weeks,  (  N.  Cogsw^ell  Weeks  is  the  name 
given  in  Adj.  (len's  re])ort  |  born.  llo])I<:intou,  N.  H.  ;  en- 
listed October  18,  1862;  age,  24;  ninstered  out  August 
20,  1868;  P.  O.  address,  Concord,  N.  H. 


N  KW     II  A  M  PSHIKE    V0LUNTE?:KS. 


441 


'Dr.     .Mollis  .y^nf/iisfus   z^ooc/dury. 

Louis  Augustus  Woodbury,  M.  I).,  (Tiovelniid,  Mass., 
was  l.oiii  ()ct(.l)ei-  1,  1844,  at  Salem,  N  H.  ;  lie  is  the 
son  of  Wasliinutoii  and  Dolly  Head  (Jones)  AVoodbnry 
and  a  grandson  of  Luke  Woodl)nry,  who  was  a  lienten- 
ant  in  the  (Continental  Army  and  a  descendant  of  John 
Woodbiiiy,  the  Old  Phintei',  who  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Salem,  Mass.  lie  is  the  great  grandson  of 
Clen.  Nathaniel  Head  of  Penioroke,  N.  II.,  who  was  a 
cajitain  in  th<'  wai'  of  the  Revolution.  He  is  descended 
on  his  mother's  side  fi-oni  Arthur  il<^ad,  wlio  settled  in 
New  Castle,  N.  IL,  before  lOTO. 


442  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  eclncated  in  the  x^iiblic 
schools  of  Concord,  the  family  having  nioved  there  in 
1845.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  enlisted  in  Company 
D,  Sixteenth  Regiment,  and  served  until  the  mustei' out. 
After  his  discharge  at  Concord  he  went  to  Washington, 
D.  C,  and  for  a  time  was  employed  by  the  (xovernment 
as  Forage  Master. 

After  returning  home  he  began  the  study  of  medicine 
and  giaduated  from  the  Harvard  rniversity  Medical 
School  February  14,  1872,  and  soon  after  settled  in  (Irove- 
laiid,  beginning  the  piactice  of  his  ])rofession  in  wliich 
he  is  still  actively  engaged. 

Dr.  Woodbury  is  a  mend^er  of  the  Massachusetts 
Medical  Society  and  of  the  Haverhill  Massachusetts 
Medical  Club  and  is  Post  Surgeon,  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic.  He  is  U.  S.  Examiniug  Surgeon  for  Pensions, 
a  mend)er  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  pres- 
ident of  the  A'illage  Improvement  Society,  a  trustee  of 
the  Public  Library  and  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  is  a 
member'  of  the  New  England  Historic  rienealogical 
Society  and  of  the  Essex  Institute.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Doric  Lodge  F.  and  A.  M.,  Tilton,  N.  H.;  has 
been  a  mend^er  of  Union  Cliaptei',  Royal  Arch  Masons 
of  Laconia  for  thirty  years  and  a  Knight  Temi)lar  of 
Haverhill  Commandery  of  which  he  lias  been  Prelate  and 
Generalissimo. 

Dr.  Woodbury  has  coutributed  several  papei-s  to  the 
Medical  Societies  of  which  he  is  a  member  and  lias  done 
considerable  historical  and  genealogical  work.  Aiuong 
his  papers  and  published  works  are,  ''A  Contribution  to 


i\K\V    HAM  I'SII  1  RK    \()I.r  NTKKKS.  44:^ 

Hit'  Knvly  History  of  iMediciiie  in  liavei'hill,  Mass.," 
"  liis('i'i})tio]is  ri-oiii  the"  Old  ('eiiiefery  in  (li'oveland,''"' 
"Kai'ly  Ministers  of  Hiadford,'"  ''An  Historical  Sket(di 
of    Iirndfoi'd  in  the  Hevolntion."' 

Dr.  \\'oodl)ni'y  lias  been  twice  mairied.  tii-st  to  Alice 
C.  Stanwood.  who  died  in  1889,  second  to  Helen  Ney 
Kobinson  of  Portsmontli,  N.  H. 

Willhini  H.  Weeks,  born,  llopkinton.  N.  H.  ;  en- 
listed Octolx-r  1).  bS(!2;  a,<;'e,  21;  discdiaru'ed  to  date 
Ano-ust  20,  18(;:!;   \\  ().  address,  (^)lfstown,  N.   H.     . 

Charles  Wilson,  born.  I'arnet,  \^t.  ;  enlisted  August 
6,  1862;  ao-e,  19;  mustered  out  August  20.  18()3. 


ROSTER    OF    COMPANY    E. 


Ca/>tciin  ^onatAan  SP.    Sanborn, 

Cnptnin  Jounthau  P.  Siinhoru,  l)()rn,  Sniiboiton,  N. 
H.  ;  enlisted  October  ](),  ^S{\2  \  nge,  48;  mustered  out 
August  t>U,   I8():5;   died  June   1,   ISSO,  at    Finidvlin    Falls, 

N.  n. 

First  Lieuteniint  David  M.  Burhnnk,  son  of  Abraham 
and  ]*<>lly  ^I.  Ibiibauk,  was  born  in  lioscawen,  N.  H.. 
j\Iay  lb,  LS-22.  He  lived  witli  his  ])arents  on  the  old 
homestead,  eniia.ued  in  the  fannini;-  and  lumberini;'  busi- 
ness until  twenty-thi-ee  years  of  age,  Avhen  he  married 
Marv  iVl.  Elliott,  of  (/anterburv.  N.  11..  daughter  of  Jer- 


1V7<:W     n\MI»SHTi;i:    VOLUNTEKlfS. 


445 


^/rsf  ^icuf.     'DaccJ  C    S/iur6an/c. 


eniiali  C.  Elliott,  lie  coiitiiiued  in  tli<^  liiiiibci'  business 
for  his  father  until  ISf)!,  when  he  was  seized  with  a  vio- 
lent attack  of  the  u'old  fever,  which  was  raging  in  those 
parts,  and  left  for  (California  in  daiiuary  of  that  year. 
He  i-etnrned  home  in  ])ecend)er,  \'^W1.  Soon  after  he 
l)onght  out  a  country  stoi-e  at  Sweatt's  Mills,  a  vilhige  in 
the  westerly  i»aii  of  lioscawen,  and  coiiiuienced  business 
in  the  mercantile  line. 

He  was  a  prominent  nuMubei'  of  the  Boscawen  ivighr 
Infantry  from  eighteen  yeais  of  age  \\\\  to  KS^O,  at  whi(d! 
Inline  tlje  militiiv  system  was  (lisbatideti. 


446  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

He  was  chosen  town  clerk  in  1858,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  until  the  division  of  the  town  in  1860,  the  west 
l)art,  in  which  he  lived,  taking  the  name  of  Webster. 
He  was  chosen  town  clerk  of  AVebster  at  its  first  meet- 
ing for  organization,  and  continued  in  that  office  until 
the  fall  of  1862,  wlien  he  resigned  the  office  to  enter  the 
Army  of  the  Union. 

He  enlisted  Webster's  quota  of  seventeen  men  under 
the  call  of  the  President  for  800,000  men  for  nine  months. 
He  took  his  men  into  camp  at  Concord  and  with  them 
helped  to  foim  Com])any  E,  Sixteenth  Regiment.  He 
was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  Company  E,  Novem- 
ber 4,  1862.  He  commanded  Company  I  at  the  invest- 
ment and  cajiture  of  Fort  Burton.  He,  with  nearly  all 
the  regiment,  was  prostrated  by  sickness  at  that  place. 
Being  physically  unable  to  perform  the  arduous  duties 
required  at  the  fort,  he  was  detailed  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Fuller  commanding,  to  return  to  Berwick's  Bay 
and  take  charge  of  the  convalescent  camp  at  tliat  place. 
He  remained  there  until  the  camp  was  broken  up,  those 
who  were  able  returned  to  the  regiment,  while  the  re- 
nminder  were  sent  to  the  hospitals  at  New  Orleans.  Hi 
a  few  days  he  followed  the  sick  to  New  Orleans.  He 
went  into  a  hospital,  but  not  liking  the  looks  of  things 
left,  and  with  the  assistance  of  Lieutenant  Modica  found 
accommodations  in  a  private  family.  Stayed  there  for 
a.  few  weeks  and  then  went  with  others  to  a  Mrs.  Horner's, 
where  he  remained  until  he  resigned. 

The  post  physician  could  give  him  no  hope  of  recovery 
in  that  climate  and  fidvised  his  early  vettivil  north  as  hi§ 


NEW    IIAMPSIIIKK    VOLUNTEERS.  447 

only  cliance  for  recovery.  He  accordingly  ]"esi,t»,]ied  his 
commission  July  IS,  18()3,  and  took  steamer  for  New 
York  and  thence  l)y  rail  home.  He  arrived  home  a  mere 
wreck  of  his  formal- self.  From  a  stiii'dy  man  of  two 
huiidied  })ounds  when  leavini;'  fortJK^  front,  he  returned 
a  mere  skeleton.  AVas  many  mouths  in  recovering  his 
health  sufficiently  to  perform  nmnual  labor. 

In  18()7  he  moved  to  Norwicli,  Vt.,  where  he  engaged 
in  milling.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  Post  56,  (t.  A. 
R.,  at  Hanover,  N.  H.,  and  was  elected  S.  \.  Com.  at  its 
first  meeting.  He  was  afterwards  chosen  post  comnnmder, 
which  position  he  held  for  ten  consecutive  yeai-s,  witli  a 
single  exception.  He  still  i-emains  an  honored  member 
in  good  standing. 

He  was  active  in  the  formation  of  the  Sixteenth  Regi- 
ment New  Hampshire  Volunteer  Association,  and  always 
made  it  a  point  to  attend  its  annual  gatherings  at  The 
Weirs,  unless  ill  health  has  prevented.  He  gave  liberally 
towards  Ihe  erection  of  regimental  headquarters. 

In  1894  he  removed  to  Boston,  Mass.,  where  he  is  con- 
nected officially  with  a  school-publishing  house.  He 
still  lives  in  Boston,  a  well-preserved,  ''  old  young  man  " 
of  seventy-five  years,  and  none  of  us  will  challenge  the 
asserti<ni  that  his  heart  is  as  patriotic,  his  love  for  the 
comrades  of  the  Sixteenth,  and  the  Old  Flag  as  fervent 
and  strong  as  in  the  days  of  the  gi-eat  rebellion. 

Second  Lieutenant  Prescott  Jones,  born,Wilmot,  N. 
H.  ;  enlisted  September  ;2,  ISH'i  ;  age,  22;  died  January 
11,  1863,  at  Carroll  ton,  l.a. 


44c'i  IIIS'I'ORY    OF     I'lIK    SIXI'KKXTli     i;E(i  I  .M  KXT 

First  Sei'gennt  Calvin  Snnhorn,  boin,  Andover,  N. 
II.;  (Milisrcil  Septenil)er  IS,  1S()"2  ;  age,  22;  (lischarged 
to  (lar<'  August  20,  18C;];  died  Sei)teinber  2,  1863,  at  New 

(  )j'le';uis,   \a\. 

Second  Sergeant  John  B.  Chase,  l)orn,  Heniiikei-,  N. 
11.  ;  enlisted  September  If),  1862;  age,  88  ;  mustered  out 
August  20,  bsn:}  ;  V.  ().  address  Wel)stei',  N.  11. 

Third  Sergeant  Benjamin  Gale,  l)orn,  Fairfax,  Vt.  ; 
eidisted  September  2,  i862  ;  age,  29;  mustered  t)Ut 
August  20.  1863;  P.  ().  address  Nortlifield,  N.  H. 

Fourth  Sergeant  Moses  K.  Smith,  born,  Sanbornton, 
N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Septend^er  16,  1862;  age,  26;  mustered 
out  August  20,  1863;  P.  O.  address  Belmont,  N.  H. 

Fifth  Sergeant  William  A.  Gile,  born,  Northfield, 
N.  H.  ;  enlisted  September  13,  1862;  age,  10;  mustered 
out  August  20,  1863,  as  i^rivate  ;  P.  O.  address  Worces- 
ter, Mass. 

First  Corporal  Alomo  D.  Davenport,  born,  Chelsea, 
\^t.;  enlisted  September,  3,  1862;  age  26;  mustered 
out  August  20.  1863  ;  P.  O.  address  Franklin  Falls,  N.  H. 

Second  Corporal  Joseph  B.  Thurher,  born,  llopkin- 
ton,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Septend)er  11,  1862;  age  28  ;  mustered 
out  August  20,  1863;   P.  ().  address  AYebster,  N.  H. 

Third  Corporal  Minot  Stearns,  born,  Wilmot,  N.  H.; 
enlisted  Septendjer  8,  18()2;  age,  29;  mustered  out  August 
20,  1863.  as  a  private  ;  P.  ().  address  Wilmot,  N.  H. 

Fourth  Corporal  Hiram  Colby,  born,  Fraidvlin,  N. 
11.  ;  enlisted  Septend)er  13,  1862  ;  age,  30;  mustered  out 
August  20,  1863;   P.  ().  address  Fraidvlin,  N.  11. 


NEW    ItAMPSllIRK    \'<>LI'N'rKKRS.  449 

Fifth  Corporal  George  F.  Sinitli,  Ixuti.  Snlishiiry. 
N.  11.  ;  enlisted  Septembei*  2.  ISCtt?  ;  :iiie,  t?(i  ;  iiiiistered 
(.111  Aii.-iiist  -JO,  ISC.;^;  (lied  .Inly  14,  ISDd,  :it  M  iiiiie;i  polis, 
Minn. 

Sixth  Corporal  Fnoch  B.  Hancock,  boin.  Finnlvlin. 
N.  II.  ;  enlisted  September  12.  ISC.'-i:  iiue.  22;  api.ointed 
sergeant;  mustered  out  August  20,  18('t;>  ;  P.  O.  address 
Reno,  Nev. 

Seventh  Corporal  William  P.  Kinsman,  born.  I'raidv- 
lin,  Yt.;  enlisted  August  2S,  18(12;  age,  IS;  mustered 
out  August  20,  1868  ;   P.  ().  address  Mvrtle  Point,  Greg, 


4.)!) 


IIIsroKV    OF    'I  III-:    SIXTKEXTir    KE<4IMK.\T 


Corpora/  aC ucicn  ///•    J^i'/durn. 


Eighth  Corporal  Liicien  M.  Kilhurn,  of  Company  E, 
Sixteentli  Ee<;inieiit,  was  l)oni  in  Boscawen  [now  Welv 
ster],  N.  II.,  January  !?<»,  1842.  He  was  descended  from 
revolntionary  stock,  his  paleinal  i;randl*atlier,  Eli[)lia]et 
Kilbnrn,  liavinu'  been  a  Newbury  port  minnteman.  who 
to(tk  }iart  in  tlie  battle  ol'  Ibmkei-  IliH,  as  well  as  in  sev- 
eral other  engag'ements  of  the  war,  including  the  battles 
of  Saratoga  and  Stillwater. 

His  mateiaial  graiwisire,  Colfuiel  Asa  Fostei',  at  that 
time  M  lad  oi  lit'teen,  was  also  in  the  patriot  army  in  its 
darkest  days.      Corporal  Kilbiirn  left  his  studies  at  Elm- 


NEW    irA:\I  PSIIIKE    VOLUXTEEKS.  451 

wood  liisMliit^',  l^oscawen,  to  enlist  in  Company  K,  and 
was  elected  corpoi-al,  as  wei'e  the  rest  of  the  officers,  by 
vote  of  the  company.  His  health  was  nincli  impaired  by 
the  service,  from  which  he  did  not  recover  for  some  time. 

He  removed  to  Massachusetts  in  186G  and  to  Iowa  in 
18()8,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  seen  his 
adopted  state,  he  says,  "develop  from  a  wild  i)rairie, 
sparsely  settled,  to  a  mao-nificent  commonwealth,  with 
all  the  advanta.^es  incident  t(j  the  civilization  of  the 
times,  and  whose  futnre  destiny  is  l)nt  dimly  fore- 
shadowed by  the  wondeiful  ])rogress  of  the  last  quarter 
of  a  centui-y."' 

In  this  progress  he  has  taken  such  part  as  a  sturdy 
Yankee,  born  on  the  I'ocky  soil  of  New  Hampshire  and 
reared  amid  the  scenes  where  economy  might  l)e  ex- 
pected to  have  taken.  ''The  New  England  Yankee 
rarely  fails  to  impi'ess  his  individuality  to  some  extent 
upon  the  plastic  material  out  of  which  new  states  are 
moulded,  and  Iowa  has  largely  been  shaped  in  regard  to 
its  laws,  customs  and  beliefs  by  the  best  influence  New^ 
England  could  impart." 

Corporal  Ivilbiirii  has  held  diffei'ent  positions  of  pub- 
lic ti'ust,  and  in  18i)3  was  elected  to  the  Iowa  State  Sen- 
at<^  aiul  I'e-elected  in  1805.  He  is  now  serving  his  second 
term.  He  married  Lizzie  II.  Peet,  daughter  of  Rev.  J. 
R.  Peet,  formerly  of  Massachusetts,  and  has  thi-ee 
chihlre'ii  living,  Charles  W.,  George  (1.  and  Mary  L.  Kil- 
])iii'n.  His  [)lace  of  residence  is  Fontanelle,  Adair 
Count\',  Iowa. 


4r)2  iiis'i'oKY   (iF    riiK  sixTKENTir  i:e(; t:\ient 

Musiciiiii  Frederick  W.  Bnllou,  l)()iii,  Alpxnndiin, 
N.  TI.  ;  enlisfpd  Aiiu'iist  28,  J8C2;  age,  27;  mustered  out 
August  20,  1808;  died   February  20,  1802,  at  Salisbury, 

N.    H; 

Musician  John  W.  Piper,  bom,  Fiaiiklin,  N.  H.  ; 
eulisted'September  1,  18(52;  age  89;  mustered  out  August 
20,  1868  ;   died  October  29,  1885,  in  Florida. 

Wagoner  George  Green,  hovm,  Fjanklin,  N.  H.  ; 
enlisted  September  12,  18(52  ;  age,  29  ;  mustered  out 
August  20,  1868  ;  P.  O.  address  Lawrence,  Mass. 

Privates. 

Paul  S.  Adams,  born,  Berwick,  Maine  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 8,  1862  ;  age,  44  ;  appointed  Hospital'  Steward 
November  22,  1862  ;  disfdiarged  for  disabilities  July  2, 
1868  ;   died  ()ctol)er  21,  1886,  at  Newptu't  N.  H. 

George  H.  Allen,  \)inw,  Westl^rook.  Maine;  enlisted 
September  28,  1862  ;  age,  82  ;  deserted  T)ecem])er  6.  1862, 
at  New  York  City. 

Hdniund  W.  Atkinson,  born,  Boscawen,  N.  H.  ; 
enlisted  September  2,  1862 ;  age,  19  ;  mustered  out 
August  20,  1868;   P.  O.  address  Boscawen,  N.  H. 

Jesse  H.  Bennett,  born.  Hill,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 18,  1862;  age,  80;  died  August  19,  1868,  at 
Mempliis,  Tenn. 

Meshach  W.  Blaisdell,  born,  Salisbury,  N.  H.  ; 
enlisted  Sejitembei'  4.  18(52;  age.  19;  died  August  20, 
b^(58,  at  Aiound  City,  111. 

James  L.  Boyce,  born,  New  Ipswicdi,  N.  IT.  ;  enlisted 
Novend)er21.  1862;  age,  22;   mustei'ed  out  Aug.  20,  18(58. 


N  K  \V     1 1  A  M  I 'S 1 1  I  I ;  K    \()LV  N  TFA']  US.  453 

Ttzekiel  ^V.  Biirhnnk,  born,  I'oscaweii,  N.  IT.:  enlisted 
SrptenilxM'  IT).  IS(;2;  :i,<;e.  :{;5  ;  died  M:iy  '21,  \^(u\,  :it  Hi-a- 
slicai'  (  Ml  y,   L:i. 

Hnrvcy  H.  Cnrtcr,  hoiii,  Ijehaiion.  \.  II.;  pnlisted 
Sppteniher  8,  1  S(;2  ;  :i,n>\  !'.>;  niiist«^ivd  out  Au,i;-iis(  20, 
]8():5;   P.  ().  :iddi-ess  ^f)  Main  stieet,  llolyoke,  Mass. 

Amnion  T.  Ciitc,  boin,  Cainbiidgv,  Mass.;  enlisted 
September  V2.  18()L';  a,i;e,  ;>()  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1808;  died  Auiiust  2.  1871),  at  Franklin,  N.  II. 

Daniel  T.  Cute,  born,  Franklin,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
August  28,  1862  ;  age,  81  ;  mustered  out  Angust  20, 
1808;  P.  ().  address  Laconin,  N.  H. 

George  C.  Chase,  born,  llopkinton,  N.  U.  ;  enlisted 
Sej)teml)er  18,  1802;  age,  27;  mustered  out  August  20. 
1808;  P.  O.  a<ldress  Webstei'.  N.  II. 

George  Coffin,  l)orn,  Boscawen,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sej)- 
tember  2,  1802  ;  age,  24  ;  died  July  27,  1803,  at  Port 
Hudson,  La. 

Charles  Colhy%  born,  Solon,  Me.  ;  enlisted  September 
8,  1802;  age,  18;  died  July  20,  1808,  at  Baton  Rouge,  La. 

Moses  Colby,  born,  Solon,  Aie.  ;  enlisted  September 
24.  1802;  age,  20;  mustered  out  August  20,  1808;  P.  (). 
address  ^Vest  Salisl)ury,  N.  II. 

Hdwiird  D.  Comings,  boiii.  Norwich.  \"t.  ;  enlisted 
Septend)ei' 8.  bS02  ;  age,  2o  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863;    P.  ().  address  044  HiaUo  Building,  Cliicago,  HI. 

Solomon  Cook,  boiii,  Ireland;  eidisted  Septeudxu' 12, 
1802;  age,  8)0;  mustei'ed  out  August  20,  1808;  died 
Marcdi  14,  1880,  at  Concord,  N.  II. 


454  HISTORY  OF  THE  sixtp:enth  regiment 

George  H.  Corliss,  born,  Mancliester,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Se^jteniber  11,  1862;  age,  18;  died  August  In,  18(38,  at 
Mound  City,  111. 

Truman  Cutting,  born,  Newport,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  12,  1862;  age,  21;  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  18()8. 

Ferdinand  N.  Dagsherg,  born,  Boston,  Mass.;  en- 
listed November  8,  1862  ;  age,  21  ;  mustered  out  August 
20,  1863;  P.  O.  address  East  Pepperell,  Mass. 

Lewis  M.  Davis,  born,  Franklin,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 18,  1862  ;  age,  29  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868. 

William  R.  Dimond,  born,  Salisbury,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  2,  1862  ;  age,  23  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  P.  O.  address  Newton  Lower  Falls,  Mass. 

James  H.  Dowse,  born,  Columbia,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
November  12,  1862;  age,  28;  died  August  lo,  1863,  at 
Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Spencer  S.  Dowse,  born,  Thetford,  Vt.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 2,  1862  ;  age,  37  ;  died  June  7,  1863,  at  New  Or- 
leans, La. 

J^lden  Bastnian,  born,  Conway,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 15,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863. 

Isaac  C.  Mvans,  born,  Fryeburgh,  Maine  ;  enlisted 
September  2,  1862;  age,  19;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868  ;  died  December  31,  1888,  at  Boston,  Mass. 

Mollis  W.  Fairbanks,  Jr.,  born,  Andover,  Mass. ;  en- 
listed September  13,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August 
20,  1863. 

Daniel  F.  Flanders,  \)ovn,  Wnrner,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  15,  1862  ;  age,  44  ;  died  June  14,  1868,  at 
Brasliear  Citv,  La. 


NEW    HAMPSHIRE    VOLITNTEERS.  455 

Benjamin  I^.  Prazier,  [Ben.  L.  Frasuer  is  the  name 
giveji  ill  Adjt.  (len's  report]  born,  Salisbury,  N.  H.  ; 
enlisted  November  11,  1862;  age,  21;  mustered  out 
August  20,  1868;  P.  O.  address  Salisbury,  N.  H. 

Albert  A.  G.  Preneh,  born,  Bristol,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  11,  1862;  age,  18;  died  July  1,  1868,  at 
White's  Plantation,  near  Port  Hudson,  La. 

Henrys  P.  Gardner,  born,  Bradford,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  18,  1862;  age, 28;  mustered  out  August  20,1868. 

Henry  C.  George,  born,  Canaan,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 9,  1862;  age,  18;  died  July  29,  1868,  at  Port 
Hudson,  La. 


4  .*")() 


lITSTOin'    OF    THE    SIXT3':?:NTn    REGIMENT 


yc,> 


oL,.     ijc/ 


J.  h.  Gcrrisli,  of  Webstei',  New  Hampsliire,  is  of 
Kevolutionary  stock,  us  liis  iireat-i-TandfMtlier  was  lieu- 
tenaiit-coloiiel  of  Stickney's  l^rigade  and  was  present  at 
tlie  siineiHler  of  Biirgoyne.  lie  was  l)oiii  on  the  farm, 
wIhmv  lie  now  resides.  May  11.  lSo8.  He  attended 
school  at  Uopkinton,  Reed's  Ferry  and  Boscawen. 
Enlisted  as  private  in  ('oinpany  K,  Sixteenth  lle,i>inient, 
and  was  promoted  as  coi'[)oial.  lie  was  present  at  the 
takini-'  of  Fort  Bnrton,  and  at  the  feint  on  Port  Hudson 


nVAV    HAMPSIITKK    VOLrNTKERS.  457 

tlie  in'ulit  of  iM.-ircli  14,  I8()8.  He  was  broken  down  on 
that  muddy  iii;ir<'li  and  sjieiit  llie  renniindcr  of  liis  time 
in  diiTci-ent  liospit;ils.  until  the  regiment  was  oi'dered 
hoiiK". 

Since  liis  dis(di:ii'ge  lie  has  l)eeii  on  the  farm.  lli'  has 
traveled  in  this  and  othe'r  New  JMigland  States  writing 
up  fiiruis  ami  icporting  agi'icult ui;il  fairs  ;ind  instilntes. 
He  is  on  the  J>oard  of  Agiicul tare  and  a  lucndtcr  of  thr 
Dairymen's  Associiitioiu  l)eing  sccietary  of  the  latter  foi- 
the  pnst  <d('\('n  years.  He  is  . Justice  of  the  Peace,  a 
mendier  of  the  ( 'oiigregat  ioiuil  (  di  iircli,  a  Sabbath  School 
tea(dier.  Inning  led  the  choir  foi- s(n'e]'al  yeais.  Ii(^  has 
taken  all  the  degi'ees  in  the  (jraiige  and  has  scivimI  as 
h^cturei-  in  i)aii'l  \\'(4)stei' (ii'aiigc  No.  loo,  and  in  Merri- 
nia(d<:  County  Pomona  (Tiangc.  He  is  a  niciidx'i- of  Win. 
I.  Brown  Post  (i.  A.  P..  and  has  lieJd  \arious  ollices  in 
town,  having  Ix'cn  selectman  three  3'ears,  and  represen 
tative  in  1888. 

He  has  been  twice  nniriied,  tiist  to  Sarah  P).  Chandler 
of  Penacook,  l)y  wlioni  h<^  has  two  children  living.  She 
died  Jnne  8,  18U"i.  January  '-»,  181)4,  he  married  Mrs. 
Mary  S.  Kenevel  of  Port  Scott,  Ivans. 


458  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Frnnk  A.  Gile,  l)()rn,  Franklin,  N.  H.  ;  enlisfed 
November  8,  1802  ;  nge,  18  ;  mnstered  out  Angust  20, 
1808  ;  P.  O.  address  East  Orange,  N.  J. 

Alheon  G.  Goodrich,  born,  Bartlett,  N.  IT.  ;  enlisted 
October  23,  1802;  age,  18;  mustered  out  August  20,  1808. 

Charles  B.  Heath,  born,  Westboro,  Mass.  ;  enlisted 
September  18,  1802  ;  age,  25  ;  died  August  10,  1808,  at 
Salisbury,  N.  H. 

Evan  M.  Heath,  born,  Grafton,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 8,  1802  ;  age,  81  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1808  ; 
P.  O.  address  West  Salisbury,  N.  H. 

Harrison  V.  Heatli,  born,  Salisbury,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  18,  1802  ;  age,  24  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1808;  P.  O.  address  Salisbury  Heights,  N.  H. 

Harrison  A.Jack,  born,  Chester,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 10,  1802;  age,  22;  mustered  out  August  2(»,  1808; 

Jesse  M.  Jacknian,  born,  Boscawen,  N.  11.;  enlisted 
September  15,  1802  ;  age,  40;  died  April  25,  1808,  at 
Bra  shear  Oity,  La. 

Willard  W.  Tones,  horn,  Boscawen,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  10,  1862;  age,  89;  died  August  8,  1808,  en 
route  to  New  Hampshire,  between  Natchez  and  Vicks- 
burg.  Miss. 

William  H.  Keyser,  born,  Franklin,  N.  IL;  eidisted 
September  2,  1862;  age,  22;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1S08. 

William  C.  Harden,  born,  Northtield,  N.  IL;  enlisted 
September  2,  1802  ;  age,  28  ;  niustei'ed  out  August  20, 
1808  ;  P.  O.  address  Boscawen,  N.  H. 


NEW     IIAMPSimiE    VOLUNTEERS.  459 

Elijiib  R.  Messer,  horn,  Vermont  ;  enlisted  September 
8,  18()2  ;  age,  24;  disclmrged  to  date  Angnst  20,  186:^; 
died  Septeml)er  1,  18(58,  at  Mem])liis,  Tenn. 

Jeremiah  P.  Morey,  hoin.  Wilmot,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
S«;^l>tember  15,  18r.2  ;  age,  81)  ;  discharged  to  date  August 
20.  ]8(i8;  died  August  8(»,  18(5:$,  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Charles  C.  Morrison,  boiii,  Kianklin,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
August  21),  18(52;  age,  20;  died  May  27,  1868,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Tristram  S.  Page,  boiii,  Boscawen,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Septembei-  18,  18(52;  age,  88;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863;  died  June  (i,  1885. 

Frank  Perkins,  hi)V\\,\\\\mi)t,  N.  H.;  enlisted  October 
18,  18(32  ;  age,  11)  ;  died  duly  24,  1868,  at  Port  Hudson,  La. 

David  W.  Pervare,  born,  Wisliire,  \^t.;  enlisted  Se])- 
tember  2,  18(52;  age,  27;  died  August  18,  1868,  at  Mat- 
toon,  Til. 

John  W.  Philbrick,  boi-n,  Bartlett.  N.  H.;  enlisted 
October  2,  18(52  ;  age,  JO  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868  ; 
killed  July  4,  1864,  at  Petei'sburg,  Ya. 

James  T.  Pike,  boin.  South  Newmarket,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed Noveml)ei-  12,  18(52  ;  age  21  ;  mustered  out  August 
20,  1868  ;  P.  O.  address,  Newlields,  N.  H. 

Thomas  B.  Rnssell,  l)orn,  [  i)lace  not  given]  ;  enlisted 
November  12,  1862;  age,  8(5;  died  August  20,  1868,  at 
Mem|diis.  Tenn. 

Rnssell  Sanborn,  born.  |  [)]ace  not  given];  enlisted 
November  lo,  b'^(52  ;  age  not  known  ;  desei'ted  November 
10,  1862,  at  Cojicoid,  N.  11. 


4()0  niSTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Prank  Santy,  born,  Canada  ;  enlisted  November  6, 
18(52:  age,    18;  died  July  7,  18C3,  at  Port  Hudson,  La. 

Isaiic  P.  Sargent,  born,  Henniker,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  9,  1862;  age,  l^.")  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868;  died  Feljiuaiy  10,  1880,  at  Penacook,  N.  II. 

Peter  R.  Shepard,  l);)in,  Canterbury,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
November  4,  1862;  age,  24;  appointed  cor})oral  ;  mus- 
tered out  xVugust  20,  1863  ;  died  September  5,  186B,  at 
Boseawen,  N.  H. 

George  W.  Smart,  l)orn,  llopkinton,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted 
October  4,  1862  ;  age,  44  ;    mustered  out  August  20,  1863. 

Horace  Smart,  born,  Concord,  N.  H.;  enlisted  October 
4,  1862;  age,  28;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863;  P.  O. 
address  West  C-oncord,  N.  II. 

David  D.  Smith,  born.  New  York  ;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 15,  1862;  age,  23;  aiipointed  commissary  sergeant ; 
mustered  out  August  2o,  18()3  ;  P.  O.  address  1620  Wal- 
nut street,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Warren  A.  Story^,  born,  Boscawen,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
Septend)er  If),  1862;  age,  20;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  died  August  21,  1863,  at  Concoi'd  N.  11. 

Joseph  Thompson,  boin  Franklin,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted 
Sei)tember  12,  1862;  age,  43;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863. 

I^uther  C.  Titcomh,  born,  lioscawen,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Sei)teml)er  IT).  1802;  age,  32;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863;   P.  O.  address,   Webstei-,  N.  II. 

hucien  H.  Upton,  hovn,  Ijoston,  Mass.;  enlisted  Octo- 
ber 11,  1862;  ;ige,  24;  died  June  15,  1863,  at  New  Or- 
leans, La. 


NEW    IIAMPSIIIKK    VOLTTNTEEKS.  461 

Samuel  W.  W/j/Je;;,  l)()i'ii,  |  jilnce  not  known  |  enlisted 
October  22,  18()2  ;  a^'e.  ;M  :.  traiisTered  to  Company  K 
Noveiiil)er  '2-2,  ]^'{)2  ;  dis(•lla^,^■e(l  to  date  An.i;-ust  20,  ]cS(;;5  ; 
died  Ang-ust  28,  ]h!()8,  at  Memphis.  Tenn. 

Charles  C.  Webber,  l)orn,  Ilopkinton,  N.  II.;  eidisted 
Se])tend)er  12,  18()2;  age,  2-!;  ninstered  ont  Angust  20. 
18(;8. 

David  J.  Whittier,  hoiii,  J3oscawen,  N.  II.;  enlist<'d 
ISeptend)er  10,  I8(')2;  age,  ',\2  \  iruistered  out  Angust  20, 
1868;  P.  O.  address  Concord,  N.  II. 

True  P.  Whittier,  born,  Concord,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
August  28.  b8C,2  ;  age,  40  ;  discliai-ged  to  date  August  20, 
b8(;8. 

John  F.  M^oodsuni,  born,  Saco,  Maine  ;  enlisted  Sep- 
teuil)ei-  28,  ]8()2  ;  age,  20;  ti'ansi'ered  to  (N)iiii)any  K 
November  22,   1862  ;   mustered  out  August  20,    1868. 

Daniel  R.  Woodward,  \)i)\]\,  Salisbuiy,  N.  H.;  eu- 
lisl('(I  Sejjteinbpi-  12,  1802;  age.  21);  discdiai'ged  for  dis- 
:d)ililies  April   27,   1868;   P.  ( ).  address   P'laiddin.  N.  II. 


ROSTER    OF    COMPANY     F. 


Cci/}tatn  CAnr/es  .^.    Ql/oocfs. 


Captnin  Charles  H.  Woods,  son  of  Rev.  Joliii  AVoods, 
of  New])ort,  N.  H..  w;is  born  Octobpr  8,  188(5.  His  edu- 
cation was  academic.  i;radiuttin,u-  at  "  Kind)all  l^nion  " 
in  the  class  of  '06.  He  studied  law  witli  liiirke  &  AVait, 
and  was  admitted  to  tlie  bm-  Fel)riiary,  18(i:2.  He  mar- 
ried Canie  C.  Rice,  of  Brooklield,  \\.,  September  2'>, 
1802.  He  was  commissioned  cai)tain  of  Company  F. 
Sixteenth  Reuiment,  and  commanded  his  conii)any  until 
miistei'ed  oii(.  A  iiuust  :2(i,  b^'OH.  Subsequently  he  was  a 
clei-lv  in  the  paymastei'  o-enerabs  ofUce  and  s2)ecia]  a.ii'ent 
of  tlie    bnifed   States    Treasiny  l)e})artment.  on  duty  in 


NEW    HAMPSHIKE    VOUTNTEERS.  4()8 

North  Caroliiin.  In  July.  ISiUi,  he  settled  in  Minneap- 
olis, Aiiiin.,  \vli('i-('  lit^  has  won  li(>ii(»i-nl)le  distinction  in 
tlie  pi'actice  of  his  profession.  ('n])tain  Woods  lias 
always  refused  to  i)articipate  in  either  ])rosecution  or 
defense  of  any  person  accused  of  crime.  He  is  senior 
member  of  the  well-known  law  tii-m  of  Woods,  Kin^nia]! 
cV'  AVaHace. 


-^rx 


4f)4  IITSTOIJY    OF     I'llK    SIX  rKF.NTIl     KKCIMKX'I' 


<^/rst  =£/'eu/enetnf  £cf</ar  £.    J^c^ams. 


First  Lieutenant  J^dgar  B.  Adams  was  born  in  Bruns- 
wick. Afaine,  Febrnary  (>,  1848.  He  was  tlie  son  of  Eev. 
Paul  S.  Adams,  of  Newport,  N.  IT.,  who  was  the  hos- 
pital stewaid  of  the  Sixteenth  New^  Ilanipshire  Regiment. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  enlisted  as  a  private  in  ('om- 
]>aiiy  (^,  Second  Vei-mont  Infantry,  in  r)iattleboro.  Vt., 
Maj^  1,  liSOl,  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  He  was  in  the  hrst 
Hull  Run  tight,  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  and  in  tlie 
Seveu  days'  hght.  He  was  captured  at  Savage  Station, 
Xa.,  June  '.M),  ^^^)2.  He  was  paroled  fi'om  Belle  Isle 
August  8,  1SG2,  and  dis(diarged  at  Point  Lookout,  Md., 


NEW     HAM  rslll  l;F,    VolJ'X'l'KEKS  4fi5 

Octol)er  HO,  1802.  He  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant 
Company  i^\  Sixteentli  Tleoinient,  November  14,  1802,  to 
Angiisr  20,  1808;  cnptain  of  the  Seventy-fifth  V.  S.  (!. 
Tnl'anti'y  September  2:),  186H,  to  November  10,  b^^iM,  and 
major  of  the  Seventj^-thii'd  V.  S.  (-.  Inl'aiitiy,  Noveiiil)ei' 
11,  1804.  He  was  wounded  at  j\[o1)ile, Ala.,  Apiil  2,  180."). 
He  Avas  brevetted  lientenant-coloiitd  I'nited  States  volun- 
teers from  that  date  and  was  ]ioU(»rably  diseliai'ged 
October  24,  180."),  at  New  Orleans,  La.,  and  has  since  re- 
sided there. 

He  is  a  mend)er  of  Post  No.  10,  G.  A.  R.,  Newport, 
N.  H. 

Second  I^ieutenant  John  S.  i?cTA:er,  enlisted  October 
9,  1802  ;  ao-e,  24  ;  died  March  17,  1808,  at  Carrollton,  La. 


4(i(j 


IIIS'I'OKY    OF    THK    SIXTKKNTH    RE«IMENT 


^I'rst  Sorffeant  ^ames    ^tffc/ou>  i/^errj/. 


First  Sergeant  James  Bigelow  Perry  was  born  at 
Rindge,  N.  H.,  Auoust  IH,  ]887.  His  father,  Colonel 
Jason  B.  Perry,  was  proniiiient  in  all  public  affairs. 
His  mother,  Sally  Wilson,  was  a  descendant  of  Supply 
AVilson,  who  was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  Ser- 
geant Perry  attended  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
town;  also  the  Appleton  Academy,  New  Ipswich,  N.  H. 
Prior  to  his  enlistment  he  was  a  successful  teacher  in 
Rindge,  Jaff'rey  and  Mason  Village,  N.  H.;  also  in  Town- 
send  and  Shirley,  Mass.  He  resigned  his  position  as 
2)rincii)al  of  the  school   at  Mason  Village  to  enlist  in  the 


NEW    HAMPSHIKK    VOLUNTEERS.  467 

Sixteenth  Regiment.  He  served  with  the  regiment  until 
its  muster  out.  He  tlien  went  to  McHeni-y,  HI.,  and  took 
charge  of  tlie  public  school  there  for  a  year,  and  then 
embarked  in  the  mercantile  business,  which  he  prohtably 
followed  for  more  than  twenty-live  years.  He  is  now 
engaged  in  the  banking  business.  In  i)olitics  Mr.  Perry 
is  a  radical  Republican,  but  lives  in  a  town  which,  until 
recently,  has  been  in  the  habit  of  giving  a  large  Demo- 
cratic majority.  As  an  evidence  of  the  regard  in  which 
he  is  held  by  his  fellow  townsmen,  it  can  be  said  that 
having  been  elected  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  (a  responsible  office  in  Hlinois)  he  was 
re-elected  by  a  vote  of  four  or  five  hundred,  with  but  one 
vote  against  him.  Mr.  Perry  served  four  years  as  county 
treasurer  of  McHenry  County,  HI. 

He  married,  August  25,  1867,  Arlette  Tuttle,  a  native 
of  Hlinois.  They  have  four  children,  Howard  Rand, 
who  graduated  at  West  Point,  in  the  class  of  1893,  and 
is  now  a  lieutenant  in  the  Seventeenth  Regiment,  U.  S. 
A.  His  youngest  son  is  a  student  at  the  Northwestern 
College  of  Law.  His  two  daughters  are  pursuing  a 
course  of  liberal  education. 

Second  Sergeant  Thomas  A.  Gihnore,  born,  Goshen, 
N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sei)teniber  12,  1862;  age,  89;  mustered 
out  August  20,  1868. 

Third  Sergeant  Bdward  P.  Philips,  born,  Fitzwil- 
liam,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  September  1.  1862  ;  age,  25  ;  mus- 
tered out  August  20,  1868  ;  P.  O.  address  Ogdensburg, 
N.  Y. 


4(?8  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIJMENT 

Fourth  Sergennt  Charles  P.  Finery,  l)orn,  Jaffrey, 
N.  II.  :  enlisted  September  IT),  18(52;  age,  2()  ;  iinisteivd 
out  August  20,  1808;  P.  O.  address  Orange,  Mass. 

Fifth  Sergeant  FiUvnrd  S.  Chntterton,  |  Kdwin  S. 
('liatt^'i-t(»n  in  Adj.  (leu's  I'ejxJi-t]  born  AcwoiTli,  N.  11.; 
enlisted  Septenil)ei' If),  I8()2;  age,  81  ;  discharged  to  <late 
August  20,  18(i8;   P.  O.  address  Acwortli,  N.  H. 

First  Corporal  Jeremiah  W.  Fadd,  born.  Saint  Lam- 
bert, (,!anada  ;  enlisted  N()vend)er  1,  18(i2  ;  age,  H8  ;  mus- 
tered out  Angust  20,  ISO:')  ;   P.  ().  address  Newport,  N.  H. 

Second  Corporal  George  H.  Sears,  born,  Leroy,  N. 
Y.  ;  enlisted  Septeudx'r  K),  1802  ;  age,  21  ;  mustered  out 
August  20,  18()8  ;  P.  O.  address  Hillsl)oro  Upper  Milage, 
N.  11. 

Third  Corporal  Thomas  J.  Rogers,  born,  (roshen,  N. 
IT.;  enlisted  September  15,  180)2;  age,  2r)  ;  discharged 
January  0,  1808.  at  New  Orleans,  La.  ;  died  January  24, 
1808,  at  sea,  while  en  route  to  New  York. 

Fourth  Corporal  Alaric  A.  Boyce,  born,  Richmond, 
N.  H.  ;  enlisted  September  18,  1802;  age,  28;  mustered 
out  Angnst  20,  1808  ;  P.  O.  address  E.  River  St.,  Orange, 
Mass. 

Fifth  Corporal  Jonas  C.  Rice,  Ixnri,  Jaffrey,  N.  H.  ; 
enlisted  Septembei' 22,  i:-^02;  agf,  8)0  ;  mustered  out  An- 
gnst 20,  1808  ;  P.  O.  address  '27)1  1st  Avenne,  Minne- 
apolis, Minn. 

Sixth  Corporal  Marrion  W.  Converse,  boin,  Rindge, 
N.  II.  ;  enlisted  Septcmbei'  8,  1S()2;  age,  24;  died  June 
4,  1808,  at  New  Orleans,  Li. 


NEW    IIAMI'SHTKE    VOLTTNTEEIIS  460 

Seventh  Corporal  Charles  H.  Cooper,  l)<)iii,  Lani;(l<)ii, 
N.  IT.  ;  PTiliwted  September  15,  18(52  ;  a.o-e,  20  ;  discliai'U'ed 
to  (late  August  20,  \SiV,\. 

Eighth  Corporal  Charles  H.  Parker,  boiii  Aniesl)niy, 
Mass.;  enlisted  Septeiiibei-  I.  1S(')2;  age,  21  >  ;  died  May 
10,   I80:5,  at  I'litte  a  la,    Rose,  La,. 

Musician  Bela  Nettleton,  born,  Newport,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed Sei»t(Mnb('r  10,  b'^(>2  ;  age.  25  ;  lie  was  taken  pris- 
oner March  17,  UiC))!,  at  ]*oit  Hudson,  La.;  paroled  A])ril 
4,  1S0:5:  mustered  out  August  20,  lcS(38  ;  P.  O.  address 
N<'wport,  N.  IL 

Musician  John  M.  Scott,  born,  Deerlield,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed Octobei-  :'..  1H02;  age,  44;  died  August  If),  ]S08, 
while  en  route  to  New  York  by  transport. 

Wagoner  Hazen  Barnard,  born,  Bradford,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed Septend»er  4,  1S()2;  age,  44;  mnstered  out  August 
20.   1808;  died  November  10,  1888,  at  Fox  Lake,  Wis. 

PRIVATES. 

John  S.  Adams,  born,  Fitzwilliani,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  8.  1862  ;  age,  20  ;  died  August  16,  1868,  at 
Cairo,  111. 

Harlan  P.  Allen,  l)oru,  Acwoitli,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tenil)er  If),  1802  ;  age,  18  ;  mnstered  out  August  20,  1868; 
P.  ( ).  addi'ess  Applelon,  Minn. 

Alnion  \V.  Bailey,  boiai,  Jaffrey.  N.  PL;  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)er  18,  18()2;  ag<\l'.);  died  Juiu'  27,  180)8,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Levi  S.  Bailey,  \n)]]\,  I'nity,  N.  II. ;  eidisted  Octobe]- 
18,  1S62;  age,  25;  discharged  to  dat<'  August  2o,  I8()8; 
P.  ().  addi-ess  Lnity,  N.  H. 


470  IIT8TORY    OF    THE    SIXTP:p:NTH    KE(4IMENT 

Henry  Baker,  ]n)in,  Goshen,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Septem- 
l)er  1.").  18()2  :   aue,  IS;  died  August  lo,  1863,  at  Buflfalo. 

N.  Y. 

Joseph  Barrett,  boiii,  Ashburnliani,  Mass.;  enlisted 
September,  D,  18()2  ;  age,  48  ;  discharged  to  date  August 
20,  1868  ;  P.  O.  address  Lunenburg,  Mass. 

Charles  R.  Bingham,  born,  Lempster,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  1."),  1^62  ;  age,  28  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868  ;  P.  O.  address,  Marlow,  N.  H. 

Charles  S.  Blodgett,  born,  Fitzwilliam,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed November  18,  1862  ;  age,  19  ;  mustered  out  August 
20,  1868;  P.  O.  address  Kimball,  S.  Dak. 

Nathaniel  Bright,  born,  Watertown,  Mass.;  enlisted 
September  lo.  1862  ;  age,  80  :  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  1868. 

Martin  V.  Brown,  born.  Newport,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
November  1,  1862;  age,  22  \  discharged  to  date  August 
20.  1868. 

Henry  Bnckwald,  born,  Germany  ;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 20,  1862;  age,  80;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868; 
died  August  29,  1864,  at  Jaffrey,  N.  H. 

Horace  Buswell,  born,  Acworth,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember lo,  1862;  age,  87;  discharged  April  23,  1863; 
P.  ().  address  Acworth,  N.  H. 

John  M.  Chase,  born,  Giantham.  N.  H.;  enlisted  Octo- 
ber 4.  1862;  age.  21  ;  discharged  to  date  August  20, 
ISiVA:  died  Sei)tend)er  r>,  1868.  at  All)any,  N.  Y. 

Bcirzillai  H.  Cofren,  [name  not  on  muster-in-roster] 
born,  Goshen,  N.  H.;  enlisted  October  21,  1862;  age,  21; 
discliai-ged  to  date  August  20,  18()8  ;  died  January  2(5, 
1877,  at  Goshen,  N.  II. 


NEW    HAMl'SJIir.E    VOLUNTEEliS  471 

Hial  Comstock,  born,  Newport,  JST.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 11,  18(i2;  no-e,  44;  died  May  16,  1808,  at  New 
Orleans,  Ln. 

Ly sunder  J.  Cowdrey,  born,  Asliby,  Mass.;  enlisted 
September  15,  18()'i  ;  a.^v,  8S  ;  mustered  out  Au.ii'ust  20, 
18()8  ;  P.  O.  address  4  Chestnut  street,  Clinton,  Mass. 

John  C.  Cnmniings,  born  Kindle,  N.  IT.;  enlisted  Sej:*- 
tember  1(»,  18()2  ;  age,  19  ;  died  August  11,  18(58,  at  Mound 
City,  111. 

Benjamin  Cntts,  born,  (loslien,  N.  H.;  enlisted  No- 
vend)er  11,  b8()2  ;  age,  2()  ;  discharged  to  date  August  20, 
1808  ;  P.  ().  address  Plaintield,  N.  H. 

John  W.  Burling,  born  Jaffrey,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 18,  1802;  age,  20;  died  May  19,  1808.  at  Butte 
a  la  Rose.  La. 

Hall  W.  Davis,  born,  Warner,  N.  H,;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 18,  1802  ;  age,  22  ;  mustered  out  August  2(»,  18(58. 

Elliot  F.  Ellis,  born,  Fitzwilliam,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  0,  1862;  age,  18;  died  June  1),  1808,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Oren  E.  Fari;\)<.)r\\,  Marlow,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber lo,  1802;  age  28;  mustered  out  August  2o,  1868; 
P.  ().  address  Mill  Village,  N.  H. 

Levi  A.  Forristall,  \Vn\\M\\\\  is  the  name  given  in 
Adj.  Gen's  rei)ort|  boi-n,  Fit/william.  N.  II.;  eidisted 
September  22,  1862;  age,  18;  died  ,Iune  17,  18(58.  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Hezekiah  French,  ]u}\\],  Plainli^dd,  N.  11.;  eidisted 
October  80,  1862;  age,  44;  discliniged  Kebruai-y  1),  18(58, 
at   Long  P)ridge,   \'a;   died  Sept.  2,    1877,  at  Unity,  N.   II. 


472  IIISTOKV     OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    JIEGIMENT 

Robert  D.  Gleason,  born,  Wincliendon,  Mass.;  en- 
listed September  IT),  18(52  ;  age,  25  ;  mustered  out  August 
20,  18G3. 

Hiram  A.  Gregg,  horn,  Goshen,  N.  H.:  enlisted  Sep- 
teinl)er  lo,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  discliarged  January  24.  18(53, 
at  New  Orleans,  La.;  P.  ().  address  Swanton,  Vt. 

Amos  Harding,  horn,  Aewortli,  N.  IT.;  enlisted  Sej)- 
teniber  15,  18(52;  age,  87;  [15  is  the  age  given  in  Adj. 
Gen's  report]  died  June  21,  1808,  at  New  Orleans,  La. 

Ransom  Hardy,  [Ransom  Handy  is  the  name  given  m 
Adj.  Gen's  report]  born,  Fitzwilliani,  N.  11.;  eidisted 
September  6,  18(")2  ;  age,  21;  died  August  1,  18(58,  at 
Port  Hudson,  La. 

H^lisha  Harkness,  hovn,  Richnu)nd,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
September  18,  18(52  ;  age,  41  ;  died  May  81,  18(58,  at  I^ra- 
shear  City,  La. 

Frederick  H.  Haskell,  [Fiederic  is  the  spelling  in 
Adj.  Gen's  report]  l)orn,  Fitzwilliani,  N.  11.;  enlisted 
Se}ttend)er  18,  18(52;  age,  20;  mustered  out  August  2(», 
18(58;   P.  ().  a(hlress  Marshalltown,  Iowa. 

Andrew  J.  Hastings,  Innn.  Grnnthani,  N.  II.;  eidisted 
Septend)ei'  15,  18(52;  age,  2(5;  discharged  June  28,  18(58, 
at  Concord,  N.  II.;   P.  ().  address  P.iadnud.  .\ .  II. 

Charles  T.  Haywood,  [Chailes  'W  Ileywood  in  Adjt. 
(ien's  re])ort  I  born,  Fitzwilliani,  N.  11.;  enlisted  8e})tem- 
ber  18,  18(52;  age,  22;  died  July  81,  18(58,  at  Port  Hud- 
son, La. 

Henry  S.  Howard,  ])n\]\,  Dorsf^,  A't.;  enlist^'d  October 
7,   18(52;   age,  82;   mustered  out  August  2'i,    18(5:]. 


NK\\'   jiA.M  I'sii  I  i;k  voluntkeks.  473 

Elroy  S.  Howe,  l)()in.  Ludlow,  Yt.;  enlisted  Sei»tem- 
ber  15,  18(52  ;  age,   !*.>  ;   iiiustered  out  August  'io,  ISC);!. 

Mitchell  W.  Howe,  l)oni,  Wliiteiield,  N.  11.;  enlisted 
September  1(),  ]S()2;  age,  48;  mustered  out  August  20, 
im:]  ;   died  daiiuary  12,  IHSC,  at  Newport,  N.  II. 

3Ioses  Hoyt,  born,  AVariier,  N.  II.;  enlisted  8ei)tem- 
ber  K),  18()2  ;  age,  21);  mustered  out  August  2(»,  IHOo; 
P.  ().  address  1)2  Charles  street,  Fittdiburg,  Mass. 

James  M.  Iiigalls,  born,  Jaffrey,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Oc^to- 
ber  4,  ]8(')2  ;  age,  4:)  ;  mustered  out  August  2(»,  li^Ci:]; 
died  December  ('»,  1S1)4.  at  Marlboro,  Mass. 

Charles  I).  Kinihnll,  l)orn,  IJiudge,  N.  II.;  eidisted 
September  IT),  l.S(;2  ;  age,  :i()  ;  discdiarged  April  21),  1SC»:J, 
at  Corncord,  N.  II. 

Dexter  B.  Knowltou,  l)orn,  Soutldnidge,  Mass.;  en- 
listed Sei)tend)er  15,  1802  ;  age,  44  ;  mustered  out  August 
20,  18(;8;  died  October  2i,  181)4,  at  Jeffrey,  N.  II. 

Andrew  I^indsny,  born.  Paisley,  Scotland  ;  enlisted 
Septend)er  15,  18(')2;  age,  o2  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
]8(;8;  P.  ().  addr.'ss  box  KM,  P:ast  Jelfrey,  N.  II. 

John  H.  Messer,  born,  (loslien,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 15,  1802  ;  age,  25  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  b'-'Oo  ;  P. 
0.  address  Mill  \illage,   X.   11. 

Charles  R.  Mnnroe,  [Monroe  is  tlie  name  given  in  Adj. 
(xen's  re})ort  I  boin,  Fitzwilliam,  N.  II;  enlisted  Se])- 
teniber  15,  1802;  age,  24  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  18()o; 
died  February  10,  1805,  at  (diicago.  111. 

JacoJ)  Newell,  }n)Y\\,  -lalfrey,  N.  II.;  eidisted  Septem- 
ber 15,  18()2  ;  age,  81J  ;  died  April  5.  I80;!,  at  IJalon 
Rouge,  La. 


474  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Charles  Newton,  hi)Yu,  Fitzwilliam,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Sex)ten]l)er  13,  18(52  ;  nge,  80  ;  niiistered  out  August  2(», 
186H  ;  died  January  15,  189H,  at  Fitzwilliam,  N.  H. 

Willard  A.  Newton,  born,  Fitzwilliam,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed September  18,  1802  ;  age,  20  ;  mustered  out  Angust 
20,  1868  ;  P.  O.  address  87  Lunnenbnrg  street.  Fitch- 
burg,  Mass. 

Freeman  W.  Nourse,  born,  Acworth,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Septeml)er  12,  1862  ;  age,  24  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868  ;  P.  O.  address  Redding,  Cal. 

Edward  A.  Nutting,  boin,  JalTrey,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
8>ei)tember  16,  1862;  age,  18;  mustered  out  August  20, 
18(58;   P.  O.  address  Fitzwilliam,  N.  H. 

Arthur  B.  Parker,  born,  Goshen,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 15,  1862  ;  age,  20  ;  died  August  10.  1868,  at  Yicks- 
burg.  Miss. 

Elias  W.  Pike,  l)()rn.  Goshen,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 15,  1862;  age,  24  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868; 
P.  O.  address  Mill  Alllage,  N.  H. 

Samuel  ly.  Pike,  horn,  Goshen,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Se])- 
tember  8,  18(i2  ;  age,  80;  died  July  25,  18(38,  at  Port 
Hudson,  La. 

Robert  T.  M.  Prentiss,  born,  Aeworth,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed Sei)teml)ei'  15.  1862  ;  age,  20  ;  mustered  out  August 
20.  1868  ;  P.  O.  address  Holyoke,  Mass. 

Henry  D.  Putnam,  [Henry  Putnam  is  the  name  in 
Adjt.  Gen's,  report)  l)oi'ii,  (Miailestown,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Se])tember  15,  1862  ;  age,  21)  :  died  July  28.  1868,  at  Baton 
Rouge,  La. 


NEW  TTAMi^snrin^  volt^ntekks.  47^ 

Dniiiel  Henry  Reed,  horn,  b'itzw  illiniii,  N.  II.;  en  listed 
Se])tt'iiil)ei'  ir»,  lS()'j  ;  ;mH,  "J)!  ;  ;i [)|)()iii ted  corporal  ;  must- 
ered out  Aui^iist  -JO,  ISC);!;  died  Jauuai'v  7.  ]<S()7,  at  Fitz- 
williani,  N.  II. 

Jefferson  Riehnrdson,  Ixun,  H(»yalstou,Mass.;  enlisted 
Se[)teiul)('r  i:!.  18(>2  ;  age,  Hf)  ;  a])})ointed  sei-geaut  ;  dis- 
(diarged  ,luue  <),  IHi;;^,  at  New  ( )rl('aus.  La.:  diedJuue24. 
JSOH.  at  New  Orleans.    La. 

Lennder  Riehnrdson,  liorn.  Koyalston, Mass.;  enlisted 
Septeni])er 'i:).  isil-i;  age,  '2'.\  :  discdunged  Februarj^  12, 
IS(t8  ;  died  June  12,  L^tto,  at  M  inneai)olis,  Minn. 

Jouiis  W.  Ross,  l»(tiii.  .latVrey,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Septeni- 
bei-  i:*,  isr.2  ;  age,  27  ;  dis(diarged  ^fay  21,  IS08  ;  died  at 
Woi'cester,  jMuss. 

Jiuues  M.  Russell,  l)oi-n,  I»  utland, A'^t.;  enlisted  Noveiu- 
l»ei'  L  ]S-'i2;  age.  2;';  inusteivd  out  August  20,  1S();'>;  P. 
().  address  box  21),  Suiui])ee,  N.  H. 


476 


IIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    EEGIMENT 


Hiirvey  Snrgent  was  1)011]  in  Mnrlhoro,  N.  PI.,  Febru- 
ary 17,  1880.  In  the  year  18.")8  lie  moved  to  East  Swaii- 
zey,  N.  H.,  where  he  received  a  coinnion  school  educa- 
tion. After  leaving-  school  he  worked  in  tlie  wooden- 
ware  shops  of  the  town  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war.  In  the  fall  of  18()1  with  others  in  that  town  he  en- 
listed to  o-(,  ill  tiie  band  of  the  Sixth  Regiment,  but  sub- 
s^xnently  received  woi'd  that  no  band  would  be  enlisted 
in  that  regiment. 

When,  in  ISC)!?,  thecal]  for  nine-months'  men  came  he 
responded,    aud   September   10   again,   enlisted   and  >vas 


TSTEW   iia:\[1'siiti:e  voi.rNTEKiis.  477 

nnistered  into  (N)iiip;my  F,  Sixh^cntli  iJeuiincnt.  lie 
was  with  t1i<'  coiiijtaiiy  until  tlicy  ariixrd  at  Caiiii)  Pai- 
a]>et.  La.,  -laiiuai'v  2(1,  at  A\liicli  (iiiic  lie  was  sll^Vl•iIl^• 
from  an  attack  of  i»n<"imi(»iiia,  tlic  ipsiilt  of  a,  cold  C(»]i- 
ti'acted  in  the  Fiankliii  sti-eet  I'aiiindvs,  at  New  York. 

On  Jannary  7  lie  \\as  sent  to  tlie  ,i;'enei'al  liosjjital,  at 
Cai'i'ollton,  wliei*^  lie  remained  until  Mai<di  :!<»,  ^\llen  lie 
was  transfen-ed,  with  othei'  patients,  to  the  riiiveisity 
Ilosjiital,  N(:'\v  Orh-ans,  Wlu:-!!  lie  had  so  far  j  eco\(-r(  d 
as  to  l)e  able,  he  was  detaih^l  froni  tlie  list  of  convales- 
cent patients  to  liel])  cai'e  for  tlie  sicdv  and  wounded  in 
the  hosi)ital,  and  was  retained  in  that  cai)acity  until 
nearly  time  for  the  i-eginieiit  to  l)e  dis<diai-,i;ed. 

While  in  the  hos])ital  h<'  had  an  opportunity  to  see 
some  of  thti'  sad  results  of  war.  lie  had  under  his  cai'e 
a  certain  nunibej'  of  patients,  amonii:  whom  were  two 
from  the  Sixteenth  R(\i!,'iment,  ('orporal  CTOodhue.  of 
Coni})any  ]j,  and  Comrade  (N)nisto(dv,  of  (Jompany  F, 
the  latter  of  whom  it  was  his  privilege  to  care  for  during' 
liis  sickness  and  death.  On  July  "^o  he  reached  Poi't 
Hndson  to  join  his  regiment,  ilei-e  he  was  again  tak<'n 
sick  and  was  nnable  to  ])roc(^ed  with  his  i-egiiiient  furthei' 
than  \'i(dvsbuig  on  tludr  journey  homeward. 

He  remained  here  ten  days  befoi'e  he  was  al)le  to  pio- 
ceed.  lie  arrived  at  Coiicoid,  N.  11.,  August  22  and  re- 
ceived his  dis(diai"ge.  His  army  life  was  uneventful,  as 
his  prolonged  illjiess  ke[»t  him  from  doing  duty  with  the 
regiment.  After  he  had  sufficiently  regained  his  health 
and  sti'ength  he  returned  again  to  the  wooden- war(^  slio])S. 
This  business  jie  foUowecf  as  long  as  his  health  permitted. 


478  TITSTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

Foi'  the  Inst  few  yenis  he  lias  lived  on  a  small  faim  in 
East  S\\  aiizey  and  keex)s  a  small  dairy.  He  was  married 
.lime  12,  1867,  and  has  one  child,  a  son,  who  is  (derk  in 
a  store  in  East  Greenwich,  R.  I. 

Alviih  A.  Smith,  hi)vu,  (loshen.  N.  H.;  enlisted  ISep- 
teiid)er  If),  18(52;  age,  44;  died  June  (3,  1803,  at  Baton 
Koiige,  La. 

Oliver  F.  Stearns,  born,  Amheist,  X.H.;  enlisted  Se^D- 
tembei-  lo,  18(i2  ;  age,  87  ;  discdiarged  to  date  Angiist  20, 
1868:  died  April  2,  1878,  at  Newport,  X.  11. 

Josinli  Stebhins,  boiii,  Winidiester,  IS".  H.;  enlisted 
Sei)teniber  18.  1862  ;  age,  81)  ;  dis(diarged  Mar(di  o,  1868, 
at  Fort  ( Nil  11  111  bus.  N.  Y.;  died  Novenil)er  0,  1804,  at 
Jalfrey,  N.   11. 

Joseph  H.  Stone,  born,  Eitzw  illiam.  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
September  18,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  died  Jnnt  o,  1868,  at 
]3raslieai-  City,  La. 

Amos  T.  Towne,  born.  Ludlow,  iNIass.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 18,  1862  :  age,  81  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ; 
died  April  8,  1887,  at  Dana,  Mass. 

L/Oanimi  B.  Underwood,  born.  Rindge,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed Se])tember  15,  1862;  age,  82;  discharged  .January 
2,  1868,  at  l>oston,  Mass.;  P.  ().  address  Winchendon, 
Mass. 

Joseph  Weleh,  born,  Canada  ;  enlisted  October  4, 
1862  ;  age,  43  ;  discharged  May  21,  1868,  at  New  Oileans, 
L,i.;  died  Jiily  2,  1868,  Enity,   N.   11. 

Hdwin  F.  Wheeler,  born,  Asliby,  Mass.;  enlisted  Sejv 
teiiiber  IT),  1862;  age,  42;  died  August  6,  1863,  at  New 
Orleans,  La, 


NKW    IIAMI'SIIIHK    VoLtiMTEEUS.  4^'i) 

John  P.  Wheeler,  Ixnii.  A'nliiiitowii,  Conn.;  enlisted 
Septeiuhei-  IT),  I8()2;  :i,i;e,  IS;  d  iscliar.u'ed  to  dale  A  ii^U'iist 
20,  ISiVS;    P.  ().  address  East  Jaft'rey,  ^.   11. 

Hclwin  D.  Whipple,  born,  Malone,  N.  Y.:  enliste'd 
Septeiid)er  4,  1S()2  ;  a,n-e,  ol  ;  diseliarge  to  date  Auii'iist 
20.  1863  ;  last  known  address,  Newport,  X.  If. 

Charles  D.  Worcester,  born,  Filcliltiirit',  Mass.;  en- 
listed September  12,  18(i"2  ;  ag-e,  HO;  |a,iie  given  at  29  in 
Adjt.  (ren's  I'eportJ  taken  i)risoner  Marcdi  17,  1808  ; 
paroled  A[)ril   4,  bS('.3  ;     mustered  out   August  20,    J808. 

Nathan  Yonng,  born,  Sunai)ee,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Nov- 
eud)er  12,  1802  ;  age,  2()  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868  ; 
P.  O.  address  Sunapee,  N.  IT. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  G. 


^: 

^-  ^ 

\ 

■■*tm' 

9§ 

Js 

V' 

Captain  jeor^e  2l/.    S/3osiuortA. 


Captain  George  W.  Bosworth,  son  of  Bela  and  Joanna 
llailow  Bosworth,  was  born  September  5,  1828,  inPlymp- 
ton,  I'ornierly  a  part  of  Plvmoutli,  Mass.,  liis  parents  be- 
ing residents  tliere  for  many  years.  Tliey  were  deeply 
iml)iipd  witli  Pilgrim  i)rin('iples  and  early  instilled  them 
into  the  minds  of  their  foui- (diildren.  Atthengeof  eigh- 
teen (leoi'ge  W.  nnited  with  the  Congregational  eliurch. 
Soon  aftei'  lie  went  into  :ni  iioii  roiindry  at  North  Chelms- 
foi'd,  whei-t»  lie  served  an  a})i)rent  icesliip,  thns  choosing 
the  same  axocation  in  which  his  fathei'  was  a  skilled 
workman. 


New*    ITAMPSHIRE    VOLLTNTEEKS.  481 

In  1847  he  iiiairied  Any  Cram,  of  Lyndeboro,  N.  H.,  a 
lady  of  sui)eri()]'  ability,  and  wlio  lias  ])roven  a  tower  of 
strength  to  him  during  the  lifty  years  of  their  married 
life.  In  184cS  hn  lemoved  to  Manchester,  N.  IF.,  where 
he  entered  the*  fonndiy  of  the  Amoskeag  Maniifactiiriug 
Co.  Here  he  })iii'siied  his  trade  as  moulder,  his  woi-k  be- 
ing confined  to  uiachinery  castings.  He  was  largely  en- 
gaged in  making  the  castings  foi-  the  cele'bi'ated  Begelow 
Carpet  Looms,  and  during  the  fall  and  winter  of  1848-'' 49 
lie  woidved  npon  the  castings  for  the  first  two  locomotives 
built  in  New  Ham})shire. 

In  the  summei'  of  1849  he  moved  to  Milford,  N.  H., 
where  he  resided  nearly  eight  years.  He  and  his  partner, 
William  Pratt,  wei'e  the  originators  and  manufacturers 
of  the  celebrated  Xoi4h  Star  Cook  Stove.  From  this 
place  he  removed  to  Lyndel)oro  to  care  for  his  wife's  aged 
mother.  In  18(3:2  he  enlisted  as  a  vidunteer  and  was  im- 
mediately appointed  as  recruiting  officer  to  fill  the  quota 
of  the  town.  In  the  fall  of  1862  he  was  mustered  in  as 
captain  of  Company  G,  Sixteenth  Regiment,  and  served 
with  it  nntil  it  was  mustered  out  of  service.  In  1864  he 
enlisted  again  as  a  private  in  the  Eighteenth  New  Hamp- 
shire Volunteers,  l)ut  before  the  regiment  left  the  state 
he  was  mustered  in  as  captain  of  Com])any  F,  serving  in 
that  capacity  until  tin*  close  of  the  war.  Was  on  active 
duty  front  of  Peteisburg,  when  Lee's  army  was  driven  out. 
He  remained  with  the  i-egiment  until  it  was  mustered  out 
in  1865.  In  186(»  he  moved  to  Amherst  and  entered  the 
employ  of  lion.  Hanson  Katoii.  but  in  (;onsequence  of 
impaired  health,  caused  by  army  service,  was  compelled 


48L> 


IIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEiJIMENT 


to  nl^nndoii  tlie  business,  Pnrtiiiny  i'Pii"ainiiig  liishealtli, 
lie  eiii;aii<Ml  in  Inisiness  as  conniiHi'ciai  traveler.  Was  i'or 
two  years  the  repi'esHiitati\e  of  tlie  town  oT  Ainliust  in 
the  State  Le,uishiture  and  for  twelve  consecutive  years 
was  superintendent  of  th(M  longreiial  ioiial  SuiKhiy  sehool. 
The  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  marriage  was  celebrated 
March  2,  lSi)7. 

Of  their  nine  chihlren  four  are  living — three  (hiugliters, 
who  are  successful  teachers,  a  son,  (leoi'ge  N.,  ^\ho  foi- 
several  years  was  a  commercial  tiavelei'.  but  is  now  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business  in  Boston. 


Ni:\V     HAM  I'SIII  IM;    NOLTNTKEltS. 


488 


^trst  ^ ('autenanf  barton  yyi/Zan  ^a//ou. 


First  Lieutenant  Barton  Allan  Ballon  was   bom   in 

Woonsocket,  R.  I.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company 
G  September  22,  1802,  and  was  ap])oinred  first  lienten- 
ant  jV(MeMibei'  4,  liS&2.  He  served  with  liis  com})anyand 
was  mnsteivd  out  Aiiiinst  2'».  I8()H.  He  is  tlie  senior 
member  of  tlie  tiiiii  of  15.  A.  J)allou&  Co.,  mannfarturing 
jewelers,  ()l  T^eclv  sheHi,  Providence,  II.  1. 

Second  IJciitenant  Martin  ly.  Colburn,  born.  New 
]j(»sh»n.  X.  !i.;  enlisted  Se]»tend)er  12,  J8()2;  age.  2)); 
nnistered  oiif  August  20,  18()8;  P.  ().  address  Frances- 
town,  N.  II. 


484  HISTORY    OF    Tlll^i    SIXTEENTH    Ri^GlMENT 

First  Sergeant  Alden  S.  Wood,  born,  Hancock,  N. 
II.;  enlisted  Septenil)er  T),  1862;  age,  22;  nmstered  out 
Aii.oiist  20,  1868;  P.  O.  address  Hancock,  N.  H. 

Second  Sergeant  Angnstus  Spinney,  born,  Elliott, 
jVlaine  ;  enlisted  ()('tol)ei' 4,  18(52;  age,  H4  ;  mustered  out 
August  20,  18(38. 

Tliird  Sergeant  George  T.Jones,  born,  Lyndeboro,  N. 
H.;  enlisted  September  (>,  18(52;  age,  21;  mustered  out 
August  20,  18(58;  P.  O.  address  South  Pitchburg,  Mass. 

Fourth  Sergeant  Jacob  hangdell,  born.  New  Boston, 
N.  H.:  enlisted  September  18,  18(52;  age,  2^  :  mustered 
out  August  20,  18(38;   P.  O.  address   New  Boston,  N.  H. 


NKw   II  AM  I'sni  i:k  voltNteKus. 


485 


^iYf/i  Scrr^cnnt    C/iar/cs  y.    7i^r/e/At. 


Fifth  Sergennt  Charles  J.  Wright  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  the  Sixteeiitli  New  Hamx^sliire  Volunteers  and 
was  }>i'()iii()ted  to  tiftli  sei'g-eant  of  Company  G,  sergeant- 
major,  and  coiiniiissioned  second  lieutenant  of  (Jompany 
K  for  gailant  and  nifi-itoiioiis  sei'vice.  He  was  comniis- 
sioiied  lieutenant-colonel,  'Idiirty-nintli  United  States 
Colored  Troops,  April  11),  ISIU,  and  conimanded  tlie 
Twenty-seventli  Cnited  States  Coloi-ed  Troops  in  the 
campaign  of  lln-  Wilderness.  He  was  wounded  in  the 
assault  on  I  he  foi't  ilications  ai'ound  Petersburg,  and 
again  quite  seriously  at  Fort  Fisher.      He  was  present  at 


486  HlyTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

the  snrrender  of  Johnson's  army,  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.  On 
Maich  i:>,  isor),  he  was  (joniniisssoned  by  tlie  President 
brevet-cohjnel,  United  States  Yolnnteers,  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  service'  dming  the  war.  Colonel  AVright  is 
vice-president  of  the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
and  ])resident  of  the  New  York  Military  Academy,  at 
('ornwall-on-the-lliidson,  X.  Y. 

The  historian  is  not  surprised  at  the  military  success 
of  Colonel  Wright,  foi-  he  was  a  ])erfect  gentleman  and 
a  fearless  scddier  during  our  Louisiana  campaign.  As 
sergeant-major  he  was  almost  constantly  with  tlie  adju- 
tant, and  dischaiged  witli  marked  ability  every  duty 
assiuned  him. 


NEW    IIA^ri^SIITKK    VoLUNTEEES. 


487 


^I'rst   Cor/}ora/  .^fnc^j/    Jfo/t. 


First  Corporal  Andy  Holt,  l)()iii,  Ij\  ndel)Oio,  N.  H.; 
enlisted,  Sepfeiiiber  ].">.  J8(')2;  :i.uh,  "Jl  ;  itiustered  in  ns 
coi'ixjral,  appointed  sei'iivant.  mnstei-i^d  out  August  20, 
1863;  P.  O.  address  South  I.yiidelM.ic,  N.  II. 

Second  Corporal  William  C.  ^Vood,  l)orii.  llan<'o(  1\, 
N.  11.;  enlisted  SeprendMr'i'  17,  1S()2;  age.  o2  ;  mustered 
out  August  20,  ]8():5  :    P.  ().  address  Ayei-,  Mass. 

Third  Corporal  John  I^.  Brooks,  born,  llancocdv,  N. 
H.;  enlisted  Octobei' I),  bS()2;  age,  28;  dis(diarged  to  date 
August  20,  18(;:i;  died  Septenjber  20,  1878,  at  Man- 
chester, N.  11. 


488  ITTSTOlty     OK    TTIE    STXTP:ETS^Tn    EEGIMENT 

Fourth  Corpornl  George  Marden,  l)()rii,  New  Bos- 
ton, N.  IL;  enlisted  September  18,  180:2;  ai;e,  23;  nius- 
teied  out  August  20,  1808  ;  P.  O.  address  New  Boston, 
N.  H. 

Fifth  Corporal  Frank  B.  Hardy,  1)oin,  Nelson,  N. 
Tl.;  enlisted  October  1),  1802;  ngc,  ol)  ;  mustered  out 
August  20,  18()3;    P.  ().  address  :\luns()nvillf\  X.  11. 

Sixth  Corporal  Fhen  J.  Palmer,  l)oiu,  L\  ndeboro, 
N.  H.;  enlisted  Septeml)er  11,  18(')2;  age,  21  ;  died  June 
30,  1803,  at  Baton  lloug<%  La. 

Seventh  Corporal  Sumner  Beard,  l)()i]i,  Keading, 
Mass.;  enlisted  Se})tend)er  1."),  1802;  age,  34;  mustered 
out  August  20.  1803,  as  a  i)rivaU\ 

FJiihth  Corporal  Robert  H.  Freneh,  l)()rn,  I'edfoid, 
N.  PL;  enlisted  September  19,  18()2;  age  19;  dis(diarged 
to  date  August  20,  1803  :  died  August  22,  1^03,  at  Mem- 
])liis.  'IVnn. 

Wagoner  Nathan  S.  Harris,  l)oi'u,  Fiaucestowu,  N. 
IL;  enlisted  Sei)tend)e]'  I  3,  180)2  ;  ag(\  20»  ;  lost  overboard 
i'rom  transport  ^Sanie  iy/.v^  August  0,  1803,  while  emonte 
for  home. 

rUIVATES. 

Calvin  L.  Andrews,  l)orn.  New  Boston,  N.  IL;  en- 
listed Sei)tend)er  3,  1802;  age,  19;  mustered  out  August 
20,  1803;   P.  O.  address  10  Gillis  street,    Nashua,  N.  IL 

George  C.  Andrews,  boin.  New  Boston,  N.  II. ;  en- 
listed Septeud)er  17,  180)2  ;  age,  18  ;  discdiai'ged  to  date 
August  20,  1803;  died  Seprembej-  (i,  180)3,  at  New  Bos- 
ton, N.  IL 


NEW    HAM  PSII  lino    VOLFNTEEKS.  489 

Wnslihigton  Bancroft,  boiii,  Nelson,  J\.  If.;  unlisted 
October  1),  I8()2  ;  age,  28;  died  August,  1),  ls(v^,  near 
Vi(d\sl)ni'g,  Miss. 

Richard  Batten,  Jr.,  born,  Salem,  INfass. ;  enlisted 
September  15,  1862;  age,  18;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868;  Post  OfRee  address  New  Postoii,  N.  II. 

Daniel  ().  Bcverstocli:,  lOscai-  I).  I'cvcislock  is  the 
name  givpn  in  Adjt.  Gen's  report]  boi-n,  Marlow,  N.  H.; 
enlisted  September  18,  1862;  age,  20;  uiustcicd  out 
August  20,  1S(;8;   P.  O.  address  Keene,  N.  II. 

Ahrani  Boutwell,  born,  Amheist,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
Septend)^]'  (>,  1862;  age,  40;  mustered  out  August  20. 
1868. 

James  Boutwell,  born,  Amiieist,  N.  H.;  eidisted  Se|)- 
teml)er  ('),  1862  ;  age,  43  ;  died  August  lo,  18^'8,  at  Lynde-. 
boro,  N.  H. 

George  W.  Boy^nton,  l)oi-ii,  Bedford,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Septeml)er  IV),  18(;2;  age,  18;  died  August  18,  1868,  at 
Yi('ksl)urg,  Miss. 

Frank  Bush,  boi-n,  ('anada  ;  enlisted  Septend)er  18, 
1862  ;  age,  24  ;  deserted  November  6,  1862,  at  Concord, 
N.  H. 

John  R.  Butler,  born,  Antrim,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember <;,  bS(;ri  ;  age,  28  ;  died  June  28,  1808.  at  New  Or- 
leans, La. 

Albert  A.  Buxton,  ]u}\u.  Nelson,  N.  II.;  enlisted  No- 
veml)er  I  I,  1S(;2  ;  age,  18  ;  mustei'ed  out  August  20,  1868  ; 
P.  O.  addi-ess  20<)  Main  stivet,  Fi tclil)uig,  Mass. 

Ivcvy  Caldwell,  [Levi  (-aldwell  |  born.  New  I'oston,  N. 
H.;  enlisted  October  22,    ]8()2  ;   age,  28  ;    discliaiged   for 


490  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

disabilities  December  2().  1S(V2,  at  Xew  Yoik  eity  ;  P.  0. 
address  Manciiestej-.  X.  II. 

Walter  Chamherlin,  l)o]n,  Lyndeboro,  JN^.  H.;  enlisted 
N()veml)er  11,  18(32  ;  a.ue,  18  ;  died  May  7,  b8G3,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Fred  W.  Chase,  l)orn.  Weare,  N.  IL;  enlisted  Sept.  8, 
]8(;2;  age,  22  ;    dief.  Ai)ril  80,  IHOH.  at   Baton  Koiige,  La. 

Benjamin  J.  Clark,  born.  Lyndeboro.  ^' .  II.;  enlisred 
September  (),  1802;  age,  :S7  ;  mustered  out  August  2(!, 
1808  ;  P.  O.  address  Lyndebi.ro,  N.  II. 

Henry  Clement,  Ix.rn.  Ilillsboro,  N.  II. ;  (^nlisted  Sep- 
tember 18,  1802;  age,  24;  ])i-()ni()ted  to  ('or])()ral  ;  died 
August  12,  18()8,  at  Mound  (Mty,  111. 

Z)^^!'!^  Co7/>3',  l)()rn,  Deering,  X.  II.:  enlisted  Sei)tem- 
ber  20.  1802;  age,  42  ;  mustered  out  August  2(»,  1808; 
died  August  18.  188^,  at  Weare,  N.  H. 

Stephen  P.  Colby,  born,  Deeiing.  N.  Il.;enlrsted  Sep- 
tember 12,  18(52;  age.  21  ;  discliaiged  to  date  August  2o. 
1808  ;  P.  ().  add  less  Weare,  X.   H. 

Joseph  Cram,  born,  Weare,  N.  11.;  eidisted  Se])rember 
10.  1802;  age,  48;  discdiarged  to  date  August  2<i,  b-'08  ; 
died  April  28,  181)."),  Clintoii  Grove,  N.  II. 

N.  Bdwin  Cram,  |  Kdwin  N.  Cram  is  tlie  name  given 
in  Adjt.  Gen's  re])ort|  ))oi-n,  W^-ai'e.  X.  II.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 17,  18(f2;  age,  b*-' ;  dischargi-d  to  date  August  20, 
1808;   died  Novembei-  I,    1808,  ;it  \Ve:ire,  N.   II. 

3Ioses  C.  Crombie,  \Must^s  15.  ('i-ond)i(^  is  the  name 
given  in  Adjt.  Gen's  repoi-t|  boiii.  New  I)oston,  N.  II.-, 
enlisted  Septembei-  2,  b8n2  ;  age,  22;  musteied  out 
August  20,   18()8  ;    P.  ().  address  New  P)(»slon,  X.  II. 


NEW    7TA:\!PSTII1JE    VOLrNTEEKS. 


401 


I^dw  ard  J.  Cudworth,  boni,  (Trccniield,  N.  II.:  <'ii- 
listed  Se})teiiiber  4,  ]^A')'2  ;  :ii;,'e,  ID  ;  died  April  7,  KSC);],  at 
Aluieis.  La. 

Hlhridgc  H.  Dcnrhoru,  born,  AVeare,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
September  2(>,  bs(;2  ;  age,  20;  died  August  If),  186:3,  at 
Concord,  N.  11. 


492 


HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTKEXTII    KEGIMENT 


.^^^ 

,-'^^^'         ^ 

J.  Harvey  Dearborn  was  l)oni  in  Soutli|^\Veare,'_N.  TT., 
March  ]5,  ISHl,  and  was  one  of  tliive  l)]'otliers  who  en- 
listed in  the  late  war.  His  boyhood  Avas  s[)ent  with  his 
uiude,  John  Dearborn,  who  was  hmdlord  of  Dearborn 
Tavern.  \\'lien  seventeen  years  of  ag'e  he  comnienced 
driving  the  mail  stage  from  Ilenniker  to  Keene,  remain- 
ing on  tliat  I'onte  two  years.  Vov  four  years  he  was 
stage  driver  between  Ilenniker  and  .Vmhej-st.  Tn18r)nhe 
went  to  Minnesota,  and  was  tlie  tirst  town  clei-k  of  Elba, 
wlien  that  territory  became  a  state.  Ileretiiined  to  New 
Hampshire  iji  the  fall  of   }Si)S,  taking   np   his  residence 


NKW    MA.MPSIIIKE    VOLUNTEERS.  403 

ill  Pi'ovincetovvn  (Cape  Cod),  Mass.  May,  1850,  lie  en- 
tered u2)on  the  duties  of  clerk  in  the  post-office.  He 
niarrietl^  April,  18()(>,  Emily  T.  Cook,  of  Provincet(nvn. 
He  drove  mail  staiie  between  Provincetown  and  Well- 
fleet,  Mass.,  until  September  1,  18(52.  He  then  enlisted 
in  ('()iu])any  (I,  Sixteenth  Regiment.  On  expiration  of 
his  term  of  service  he  returned  to  Provincetown,  and 
has  followed  th^  occupation  of  papei'hanger  for  seven- 
te<Mi  years.  During  the  ]>ast  fifteen  years  he  has  been 
clerk  in  a  fancy  goods,  jewelry,  uews^^aper  and  periodi- 
cal store. 

Diivid  D.  Dennison,  l)orn  Francestown,  N.  11.;  en- 
listed Seprember  11,  18(52  ;  age,  20  ;  mustered  out  August 
20.  18(58  ;  P.  O.  address  New  Boston,  N.  II. 

hdward  P.  Dodge,  [E.  Porter  Dodge  is  the  name  giveii 
in  Adjt.  Gen's  report]  born  Danvers.  Mass.;  enlisted 
September  2,  18(52;  age,  21;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868;  P.  O.  address  Stoneham,  Mass. 

Alinon  Dow,  l)orn  AVeare,  N.  H.;  enlisted  September 
15,  18(52  ;  age,  21  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  18(58. 

Blverton  G.  W.  Dunklee,  |  E.  George  W.  Dunklee  is 
the  name  given  in  Adjt.  (leii's  re[)ort]  born  Amherst,  N. 
H.;  enlisted  September  20,  18(52;  age,  18;  mustered  out 
August  20,  18(58;  P.  ().  address  Conklinville,    N.   Y. 

Horace  Pcirrnr,  born  Grafton,  N.  11.;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 15,  18(52;  age,  25;  died  June  28,  1868,  at  Baton 
Rouge,  La. 

George  W.  Feltch,  boi-ii  Weare,  N.  11.;  enlisted  Se])- 
teml)er  8,  1862  ;  age,  V.)  ;  died  May  1,  1868,  at  New  Or- 
leans, La, 


494  HISTORY  OF  the  sixteenth  eegiment 

Alonzo  Foot,  l)()in,  Goffstown,  N.  IT.;  enlisted  Octol)er 
2,  1862  ;  ai;v,  \V2  ;  died  June  7,  18()8,  at  New  Orleans,  La. 

Michael  Ford,  hoin  Ireland;  enlisted  8ei)teniber  20, 
18GS  ;  aii'e.  18  ;  discdiarged  for  disal)ilities  .June  17.  1808, 
at  New  Oi'leans,  La. 

Jereminb  Foster,  l)()rn,  H()x])ury,  Mass.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 12,  ]8(;2  ;  age,  44  ;  niuster<'d  out  August  20,  18()8. 

John  A.  Franklin,  l)()rn.  Hartsville,  N.  Y.;  enlisted 
Septembei'  1(»,    18(!2  ;   age,  2(»  ;    mustered   out  August  20, 

^m?■,. 

John  Gage,  born,  Lyndel)o]().  N.  II.;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 18,  18()2  ;  age,  25  ;  mustered  out  Augnst  20,  1868  ;  P. 
O.  address  Henniker,  N.  H. 

Alden  S.  Gardner,  l)orn,  Px-dfoid,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Oc- 
tober 1(),  1862  ;  age,  42  ;  disrliai-ged  for  disabilities  Apiil 
AiS,  1868,  at  Erasliear  Oity,  La. 

Nathaniel  S.  Gardner  was  born  in  Sunapee,  N.  H., 
August  IT),  182<»,  and  lived  on  the  farm  now  known  as 
Prospect  Hill,  neai-  the  west  shore  of  Sunapee  Lake. 
He  attended  the  district  school  until  fifteen  years  of  age, 
Avhen  he  was  apprenticed  to  John  'V.  Chase,  of  Newport, 
N.  11.,  to  leain  the  ti'ade  of  shoe  making,  serving  the 
required  thiee  years.  After  graduating  as  a  journey- 
man he  worked  at  his  tiade  in  Newport,  N.  H. ;  Wobui'U, 
Mass.;  Methuen.  Mass.,  and  Claremont,  N.  11.,  until 
1845,  Avlien  he  engaged  in  manuracturing  at  Sunapee  and 
has  enjoyed  success  and  })rosperity.  lie  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)er,  1862,  to  coiuphde  the  bass  section  of  the  New- 
]H)it  Cornet  Band  ;   that  became  the  regimental  band  of 


Ninv   ilAiMrsiTTin':  volttktki-^ks. 


495 


y/cif/ian/c/   t>.     6?  a  re/ r 


tlie  SixtHHiitli  Regiment.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the 
band  until  mustered  out  with  tlie  regiment  at  Concord, 
N.  H.,  August  L^o,  ISC):!.  !h' ret  ui  ikm!  to  Suna])ee,  wliere 
be  resi(bMl  until  1S84,  when  1ip  removed  to  Spi'ingfield, 
jVfass.,  his  ])ieseiit  i-<'sideiicp.  lie  is  a  member  of  Fred 
Smith  Post  No.  I(»  (J.  .\.  IJ.,  and  is  fln^  local  coi'i-esixynd- 
ent  for  several  n''\vs]>;ii)ei's. 

George  P.  Gn'swold,  hoiii,  Deeilield.  N.  Y.;  enlisted 
Se}tteinber  IT,  b^C.-i  ;  nge,  '22  \  mustered  out  August  2(\ 
ISC.:*,;   died  April   II.   IS<»4.  at  I'jenniugtoii.   N.   II. 


496  TIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

George  G.  Hnrdy,  ])()vn,  Nelson,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
October!),  1862;  age,  44;  died  June  iH,  1868,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Otis  N.  Holt,  l)orn,  Temple,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Septeni- 
bei-  L>1),  18(;2;  age,  11);  mustered  out  Angnst  20,  18(53; 
died  Febrnary  1,  1892,  at  Francestown,  N.  H. 

James  W.  Johnson,  boi-n,  llaiKMtek,  N.  11.;  enlisted 
October  23,  1862;  age,  18;  di-owned  July  2,  bS63,  at 
Spi'ingfield  Landing,  La. 

John  H.  Kiirr,  born,  Lyndel)or<),  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)er  16,  1862  ;  age,  24  ;  died  August  10,  1863,  at  A'i(dvS- 
burg,  Miss. 

Charles  Kent,  Jr.,  born,  Pelliam,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Octo 
ber  27,  b862  ;  age,  22  ;  discharged  Jnne  2o,  1863,  at  New- 
Orleans,  La.;  P.  O.  address,  Pelliam,  N.  H. 

John  Kelley,  born,  Ireland;  eu  listed  October  8,  1862; 
age,  18;  discharged  to  date  August  20,  1863;  last  heard 
from  at  8  treat  or.  111.,  in  1893. 

William  Kelso,  Jr.,  l)orn,  New  Boston,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed Se[)tember  17,  1862  ;  age,  36  ;  died  Jnne  9,  1863, 
at  Brasliear  City,  La. 

Bdwin  P.  Kimball,  born,  Hancock,  N.  IL;  enlisted 
September  11,  1862  ;  age,  20  ;  discharged  to  date  August 
20,  1863;  died  Angnst  26),  186)3,  at  Memjdiis,  Tenn. 

George  F.  Lamson,  born.  New  Boston,  N.  II.;  en- 
listed October  IT),  186)2  ;  age,  25;  died  July  12,  1863,  at 
Baton  Rouge,  La. 

Horace  Langdell,  hon],  New  l^oston,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  12,  1862  ;  age,  37  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  P.  O.  address  Eau  Claire,  Wis. 


KKW    JiAMPSiilRE    VOLUNTEERS.  497 

Jonathan  S.  I^ock,  boni,  Warner,  N.  IF.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember IS.  Ih'C.'i  :   a,ue,  1.-^  :   nnist<'re(l  out  August  20,  IHC):?. 

Ahncr  II.  Lull,  born,  ^'cw  I'oston,  N.  II.;  ('ulisted 
September  ]."),  b^liri  ;  age,  18  ;  died  June  o,  LSIK),  at  Bia- 
slieai-  City,  La. 

Samuel  F.  McQiicsti()n,])ni]\,  T^^dfoid,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
Septend)er  2;"),  ]S(')2  ;  age,  2:5  ;  died  June  i;!,  bsi;:'),  at  New 
(Orleans,  La. 

Joseph  Mason,  born,  ]>o\vdoinliani,  iMaine  ;  eidisted 
Septend)er  o,  bS(>2  ;  age,  8:5;  mustered  out  August  2(), 
ISm;  P.  O.  address  Unity,  Me. 

Alexander  Melville,  boin,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed October  1),  ]M02  ;  age,  ^Jo  ;  desei'ted  Novend)er  10, 
1802,  at  ('onco]-d,  N.  H. 

William  P.  Mudge,  born.  East  Wallingford,  \t.\  en- 
listed Septend)er  20,  1S02  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  Aug- 
ust 20,  180:^;  P.  ().  address  Antrim,  N.  IL 

Charles  H.  Murphy,  liorn.  New  Boston,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed September  4,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August 
20,  1863. 

Jesse  W.  Peahody,  born.  New  Boston,  N.  H.  ;  en- 
listed September  l'•^,  1862  ;  age.  21  ;  mustered  out  Aug- 
ust 20,  186;^ 


4'-)8  lIlsTor.Y    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 


John  R.  Perkins  was  born  in  New  Boston,  N.  H.,  re- 
moved to  Weare,  N.  H.,  wliere  he  enlisted  September  19, 
18()-i,  at  tlie  age  of  17  as  a  private  in  Company  G,  Six- 
teenth Regiment. 

lie  served  the  fall  term  of  liis  enlistment,  and  wasdis- 
charged  to  date  Angnst  2(»,  1S(;S.  lie  located  in  Milford, 
N.  H.,  where  he  married  Maiy  ('.  Wetherbee  and  estab- 
lished a  home  and  bnsiness.  lie  has  devoted  his  best 
talent  to  his  i)rofessi(ni,  and  is  known  as  Milford's  popnlar 
artist. 


NEW    IIAMJ\SHIHE    VOLUNTEERS.  499 

George  S.  Petts,  boni,  Nelson,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Octo- 
Ix'i- 0,  IS(;->;  :i,i;v,  ;}()  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1808;  P. 
O.  addi-ess  iSlunsonville,  N.  H. 

George  B.  Riiyiuond,  born,  Lyndeboro,  N.  II.;  en- 
listed Octobei'  8,  1802;  age,  18;  mustered  out  August 
•JO,   KS(;8  ;   died  I)eeeinl)er  T),  1870,  at  Lyndeboro,  I^ .  H. 

Joseph  M.  Riehiirdson,  born,  Nelson,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Septend)ei-  14,  1802  ;  age,  23  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1803  ;   P.  ().  address  Keeiie,  N.  H. 

Horaee  K.  Riigg,  born,  Sullivan,  N.  H.;  eidisted 
Se[)tend)er  8,  18(52;  age,  lU  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
180H;   P.  ().  a(blress  Arwortli,  N.  H. 

Hnrtwell  II.  Shepard,  born,  Andiei'st,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
November  8,  1802;  age,  21  ;  died  August  10,  1803,  at 
Mound  City,  Til. 

Horaee  Shirley,  born,  Goffstown,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember If),  1802;  age,  21;  drowned  April  18,  1803,  at 
Vermillion  Bayou,  La. 

Gideon  Silver,  born,  Bow,  N.  H.;  enlisted  September 
21),  1802  ;  age.  33  ;  deserted  November  7,  1802,  at  Con- 
cord, N.  H. 

William  P.  Steele,  born,  Sebec,  Maine  ;  enlisted  Octo- 
ber 4,  1802  ;  age,  33  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1803  ; 
P.  O.  addiess  South  Lyndel)oro,  N.  II. 

Charles  A.  Tarhox,  born,  Nelson,  N.  IL;  enlisted 
September  12,  1802  ;  age,  28  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1803;   P.  ().  address  East  Sullivan,  N.  11. 

William  Thorp,  boiii,  Dei-by,  England  ;  eidisted  Sej)- 
tember  10,  1802;  age,  30;  died  August  14,  1803,  at  Mound 
City,  111. 


OOO  HISTOUY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

Orson  C.  Tolnian,])()rn.  Nelson,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Orto- 
l)ei'  0,  1S62  ;  aii'e,  2(»  ;  discharged  for  disabilities  Jnh' 
Ja,  1S()8,  at  New  Orleans,  La.;  P.  ().  address  Nelson, 
N.  IT. 

Jacob  Towns,  born,  Pembroke,  N.  11.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tenii)er  K),  18()2  ;  age,  'U  ;  dis<Tiaig<:'d  to  date  Angnst 
20.  ]S():5;  died  December — ,  1800,  at  New  Bost(m,  N.  H. 

Ivcwis  Towns,  l)oi'n.  New  Boston,  N.  11.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)er  20,  1802;  age,  29  ;  discliarged  to  date  August  20, 
1863  ;  died  September  14,  1S63,  at  Memphis,  Tenn. 

William  A.  White,  born,  Deeiing.  N.  II.;  enlisted 
September  10,  1802  ;  age,  37  ;  died  June  30,  1863,  at 
I3aton  Pouge,  La. 

David  L.  Wood,  boin,  Hancock,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
teml)er  20,  1802;  age,  33;  died  July  19,  1863,  at  Baton 
Pouge,  La, 

Henry  B.  Young,  born,  Sunapee,  N.  IL;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 13,  1862  ;  age,  32  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY   H. 


Captain  ^oAn  aC.    ■^ic 


Ciiptninjohn  t,.  Rice  was  born  in  Weatliersfieltl,  Vt., 
February  1,  bS4().  lie  i.s  a  liiu^al  descendant  in  the  ninth 
generation  from  Edmund  ]li('e,wlio  came  from  Berkliamp- 
stead,  England,  and  settled  in  Sudbury,  Mass.,  in  1(588. 
He  was  educated  in  the  connnon  schools  of  his  native 
town  and  at  Kind)all  I'nion  Academy,  Meriden,  N.  H. 
He  enlisted  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  from  Cornish,  N.  H., 
for  three  months,  A})]-il  28.  1801.  He  was  not  mustered. 
He  re-enlisted  as  })iivate  May  21,  1861,  in  ('omi)any  A, 
Second  New  Hani})shire  Infanti-y,  and  was  uiustei'ed  May 
31,  1801.      He  was  shot  through  the  lungs  at   the  l)attle 


50^  IIISTOllV    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGOFENT 

of  Bnll  Run,  Vn.,  July  21.  18G1,  and  left  on  the  field  for 
d<-:id.  Funeral  serviees  were  held  at  his  A'einiont  home, 
lie  was  conlined  in  Libby  Prison,  Riehiiiond,  Va.,  until 
.laiiuary  l^  1<S(;!?,  when  he  rejoined  his  regiment.  He 
])ai'ti('i|)ated  in  the  siege  of  Yorktown  and  in  the  battles 
of  \^'illiamsl)Ul■g,  Fair  ()aks,  Savage  Station,  (llendale 
and  Malvern  Hill,  in  the  Peninsular  campaign  of  1862, 
aud  in  the  battles  of  Ijristoe  Station  and  Second  Bull 
Hun.  in  Pope's  A^irginia  campaign  of  1802.  He  was  ajJ- 
pointed  captain  in  Company  FI,  Sixteenth  Regiment,  in 
18()2,  and  was  dischaii'.ed  from  Second  Regiment  Novem- 
ber 18,  18()2,  to  acc(^pt  promotion.  He  Avas  commissioned 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Tliircl  Louisiana  Native  Guards, 
afterwards  known  as  Seventy-fifth  Ignited  States  Colored 
Infantry,  one  of  the  iirst  colored  regiments  recruited.  He 
paiticipated  with  that  regiment  in  Banks'  Red  River 
campaign  of  1864.  He  assisted  General  Bailey  in  the 
construction  of  the  famous  Red  River  Dam  at  Alexandria, 
that  was  designed  to  Hoat  Admiral  Porter's  gunboat  fleet, 
which  had  become  grounded.  He  held  an  independent 
command  in  Southwestern  Louisiana  in  186;"),  and  assisted 
in  the  earlier  reconstruction  measures  at  the  close  of 
hostiliti<'S.  He  was  mustei'ed  out  Novend)er  26,  I860,  at 
New  ( )rleans.  He  engaged  in  cotton  cultuie  in  Louisiana 
in  1866.  and  returned  noi'th  and  settled  in  Spi'ingiield, 
Mass.,  in  18(»7,  subsequently  studying  law  and  continu- 
ing in  the  practice  of  his  i)rofessioii  in  Spi-ingfield  until 
the  i)resent  time.  He  was  commandei-  of  F.  K.  Wilcox 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  S}uinglield,  in  187<»,  and  judge  advo- 
cate of  Massaidiusetts  l)e])ai'tment,  G.  A.  R.,  1878. 


NEW     TIAM  I'SIII  IM-;    VoLrN'I'EKKS. 


Mrs 


He  lias  btM'ii  p  roll  linen  t  ill  the  ])()lit  ics  of  i\Iassacliiis(4(s 
for  I  he  lasl  twenty  years.  He  \\:is  insjx'ctor  of  ciistoins 
at  })oi't  ol"  l)OSt()ii  '74-'7r),  and  was  elected  iiieiiiher 
of  IMassaidiiisetts  House  of  llepresentat  i\es  from  Sjn-iiig- 
lield  in  18cSl.  He  was  (diief  of  jiolice  in  S[)ianuli(dd  in 
1882,  i)ostinastei-  at  S])i-in,uii(^ld  'S()-'iM),  and  cliief  of 
police  in  tlie  same  city  ]8i;'i-'l)H-"l)4. 

He  is  now  ('oniniission(  r  of  Tnited  States  Circuit  (*oiii't 
for  the  ])istrict  of  JNTassacdiusetts,  nieniher  of  Massa(diii- 
setts  C<»mniandrv  Military  Order  Loyal  JiC^iiioii,  nieinlx'i- 
of  ConiK'cticiit  \  alley  Historical  Society,  and  member  of 
American  iM-onoinic  Association.  His  P.  ().  address  is 
Spriiiii'lield,  Mass.  His  thoroiiiih  soldierly  bearinu;- is  re- 
membered not  only  l)y  his  company,  bnt  by  the  entire 
reii'iment. 


>fk 


504  HISTorvY    i)V    THE    STXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 


^'trsf   ^e'citfcnanf   S/^roctor    2?.     "iZJarcf. 


r  First  Lieuteiinnt  Proctor  D.  Ward,  l)()i'ii,  Bradford, 
N.  II.;  enlisted  J^epteniber  IH,  1X02;  ai;e,  41  ;  mustered 
out  August  20,  1863  ;  died  April  23,  1<S84,  at  Bradford, 
N.  H. 

Second  Lieutenant  Philip  C.  Beau,  the  eldest  son  of 
William  Henry  and  j\Iai-y  (Colby)  I'ean,  was  born  in 
Warner,  N.  II.,  April  24,  183(5. 

He  attended  tlie  pul)lic  and  ]»riv;it(^  schools  o!  that 
town  until  the  age  of  fifteen,  when  he  took  (diai'ge  of 
liis  father's  saw  and  grist  mills,  located  in  the  village  of 
AVaterloo. 


NEW     HAM  PSIiniK    VOl.rNTKKlJS. 


505 


% 


Scconc/  ^I'ai/fcnnnf  ^Ai7/p  O,    ^cni 


Upon  reacliiiii;'  his  innjority  Ih^  went  fo  (Miarlcstowii, 
Mass.,  and  was  eu,u-a,i2,e(l  in  siniilar  business  for  two  yinii-s, 
and  then  returned  to  \Variier  to  estal)lish  himself  in 
manufacturing:  and  metdianical  ])ursuits. 

Au.n'ust,  18(')!2,  under  President  Ijincoln's  call  for  nine- 
months'  men,  he  enlisted  as  a  pi'ivate,  and  was  ai)[)<)iiited 
recruitina,'  ofticer,  to  ]-aise  the  l)alance  of  the  town's 
quota,  which  was  no  easy  task,  as  AVarner  had  only  i-e- 
cently  furnished  a  compan)^  for  the  Eleventh  Regiment. 

After  a  thoroni^h  canvass  the  I'equii'ed  number  was 
obtained,  and  going  into  cam])  a  I  Concord  eaj-ly  in  Octo- 


506  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    HEOIMENT 

ber  was  assigned  to  C*()nii)any  H,  Sixteentli  Regiiiienr. 
On  the  4th  of  November  Mr.  Eean  received  a  commission 
from  Governor  Berry  as  second- lieutenant  of  that  com- 
jiany. 

He  left  (Joncoid  with  the  regiment  and  I'eniained  with 
it  nntil  its  return  from  the  famous  ''mud  nmr(di "  to 
cam})  at  Baton  Rouge. 

The  ex])osure  and  hardshij^s  experienced  on  that  march 
resulted  in  mahirial  fever  and  injuries,  which  confined 
him  in  the  hospitals  at  Baton  Rouge  and  New  Orleans 
until  early  in  July,  1K('8,  Avhen,  at  his  own  request,  he 
was  assigned  to  special  duty  in  connection  with  the 
l)aroled  prisoners'  camp  at  Shi])  Island. 

A  few  weeks  later  he  was  ordered  to  turn  over  such  of 
these  men  whose  term  of  service  had  expired,  to  their  re- 
spective regiments  at  Port  Hudson. 

He  rejoined  his  regiment  at  that  ])lace,  and  ux)on  the 
termination  of  its  term  of  eidistment  returned  with  it  to 
Concord,  and  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  August  20, 
1863. 

He  was  then  employed  for  a  time  as  a  bridge  builder 
for  the  Concord  railroad.  Since  1870  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  hardware  l)nsiness  in  Concord,  until  a  recent 
severe  illness,  traceable  to  his  trying  experiences  in  the 
swamps  of  Louisiana,  compelled  his  retirement. 

Just  before  entering  the  army  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  L.,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Lemuel  Willis,  of  Warnei", 
who  died  in  1869,  leaving  one  son.  He  was  again  mar- 
ried, in  1879,  to  Miss  Hannah  M.  Eastman,  of  Concord. 

Mr.  Bean  is  a  member  of  E.  E.  Sturtevant  Post  No.  6, 


G.  A.  R.,  of  CiJiicord  (in  wiiicli  lie  li;is  held  v;iii(»iis 
offices),  and  of  tlie  Sixteentli  llei^inient,  j\ew  llanii).sliiie 
\'olnnteers  Associntioii,  liavinn'  served  two  years  as  pres- 
ident of  (he  latter  oiyanization,  in  which  he  takes  great 
interest. 

First  Sergennt  Reuben  B.  Porter,  bom.  Sutton,  N. 
11.;  enlisted  ()ctol)er  6,  1<S62  ;  ;i,l;p,  22  ;  ai)pointed  second 
litMiteiiant,  C<)ini);iny  E,  .lanuai-y  ]1),  ISO:);  niustPK^d 
out  Au,i;iist  20,  IcStUS  ;   died  since  ninstei'  out. 

Second  Sergennt  Perley  F.  Dodge,  l)oiu,  New  l^os- 
ton.  N.  H.;  enlisted  S<^i)tend)ei-  12,  1,S('»2  ;  nge,  24  ;  :i})- 
pointed  tirst  seri;eaiit  .January  li).  1<S(58  ;  died  ,lune  !.'!, 
].S(i:5,  at   New  Oileans,  La. 

Third  Sergennt  Levi  Ward,  ])orn,  Bradford,  N.  IT.; 
<'nlist<^d  September  24.  L'^(»2  ;  age,  32;  niustei-ed  out 
August  20,  1863;  died  February,  1890.  at  Laconia,  N.  II. 

Fourtli  Sergeant  Moses  C.  Hnrrinmn,  born,  War- 
ner, N.  H.;  enlisted  Septendx-r  2<>,  bS02  ;  age,  2<S  ;  mus- 
tered out  August  20,  1  (SOB,  as  a  private;  P.  O.  address 
Waniei-,  N.  H. 

Fiftli  Sergennt  John  W.  Moore,  boi-n,  Sutton,  N.  11.; 
enlisted  September  5,  1802;  age,  2S  ;  appointed  lirst 
sergeant  June  18,  1S02;  mustered  (nit  August  20,    180:). 

First  Corpornl  Robert  Wndleigh,  boiii,  Sutton,  N. 
11.;  enlisted  Septeud)er  9,  180)2;  age,  30;  died  May  S, 
1803,  at  Braslieai'  City,  La. 

Second  Corpornl  Olney  M.  Kimbnll,  boi  ii,  'ruruei-, 
Maine;  enlisted  Se[)tend)er  10),  180)2;  age,  ;>1  ;  discharged 
June  27,  1803,  at  New  Orleans,  La.;  died  (Hiarlestowii, 
Mass.,  .laniiary  0,  ISOO, 


008  IIISTOllY    OF    TIIK    SIXTEENTH    REGIMEXT 

Third  Corporal  George  C.  Sargent,  l)()rn,  Warner. 
N.  H.;  enlisted  September  80,  1SG2  ;  age,  84;  nmstered 
out  Ano-ust  20,  18(58;  P.  O.  address  Bradford,  N.  H. 

Fourth  Corj)oral  James  Bean,  Jr.,  was  born  in  AVar- 
ner,  N.  H.,  .Tune  J8,  LS40.  lie  was  a  son  of  James  Bean 
and  Mnrinda  St"ewart-P)ean.  and  a  grandson  of  Natlianiel 
Bean,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  A\'arner.  He  enlisted 
September  22.  1S()2.  in  Coinpnny  JI.  Sixteenth  Regiment, 
and  was  ajtpoiiited  coi'ix)!;!!.  lie  served  the  fnll  term  of 
enlistment  and  w:is  miistei-ed  out  A  iigust  20,  ]<S(')8.  He 
married  A[)[»hi:'i  b'landers  December,  iSC),").  and  resided 
in  Warnei'  until  his  death,  Noveml)er  1),  1884,  leaving  a 
wife  and  three  daughtei-s. 

Fifth  Corporal  John  Baton,  boin.  r)iadford,  N.  H.; 
enlisted  Augirsr  80,  ]8()2  ;  ag>'.  Ill;  :i[)pointed  sei'geant  ; 
died  July  24,  'i^H,  at  Port  Hudson.   La. 

Sixth  Corporal  Gilnian  31.  Blake,  boin,  Monlton- 
boro,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted  Sei)tend)er  22,  bS()2  ;  age,  29  ; 
died  Jnne  17,  1808,  at  New  Oileans,  La. 


NEW     HA.MI'SinKK     \' <  >  L  (' NTK  Ki;S. 


noi) 


fSci>c/}fA    Corpora/  ^T^arAr   1l/.     C/ioncj/. 


Seventh  Corporal  Murk  W.  Cheney  was  born  in 
Bradford,  K.  II.,  Octobei-  '24.  1888.  He  removed  to 
South  Newbury,  N.  H.,  with  liis  parents  Avhen  one  year 
and  a  half  old,  wliere  liis  residence  has  since  l)een,  liviiii;' 
on  the  same  I'arni  nearly  all  the  time  for  tifty-six  years. 
He  enlisted  at  Newbury,  Septend)er,  18{;2  ;  was  enrolled 
for  duty  at  Concord,  Octolx^r  IS.  18()2;  a})i)ointed  cor- 
poral in  Company  11  at  ('oiu'ord,  N.  11.,  and  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  ot  sei-geant  at  Port  Hudson,  La.  He 
served  with  IIih  reii'iment  tlii'oii,<>'hout  all  its  service, 
bt^inf^ absent  fi-oin  duty  only  some  eight  or  ten  days  when 


510  HISTOTIY     (»F    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

sick  with  iiiahirial  fever  in  tlie  regimental  field  hospital 
at  Port  Hudson. 

On  the  celebrated  ''  mud  marcli  ""  he  was  detailed  for 
])icket  duty  just  before  the  regiment  retreated  back 
through  the  swam])  near  Port  Hudson,  and  threw  away 
neaily  all  his  rations,  except  coffee,  that  he  might  hel|) 
his  l>rothei-  Luke  ('lieney.  who  was  weak  from  sickness, 
liaving  just  been  discharged  from  the  liospitaL 

Tlie  next  night,  after  a  hard  day's  marcdi,  he  wasagain 
detailed  Un'  guard  duty,  the  only  one  from  Company  H. 
He  walked  his  l)eat  all  night,  not  Ixdng  relieved  until  be- 
tween seven  and  eight  the  next  luoi'iiing.  'I'liey  wei-e 
lonely  hours,  uuule  especially  so  t'l'oui  the  fact  that  a 
tei'rible  th  under  storm  raged  neai'ly  all  night.  It  became 
necessary  for  him.  without  rest  oi'  suitable  rations,  to 
march  back  to  camp  with  the  reiiiment,  being  on  the 
march  and  guard  duly  I'oi-  nearly  sixty  hours,  continu- 
ously in  mud  and  water  any  where  from  three  incdies  to 
three  feet  (h'eji.  Aft(:'r  the  regiment  got  ba(dv  to  cam]) 
he  was  one  of  the  few  that  was  able  to  be  in  line  to 
answei-  to  his  nam*'  at  roll-call.  On  account  of  the  ex- 
tr<une  hardshi])  Sei-geaut  Cheney  endured  at  that  time, 
Ca])tain  ivice  excused  iiim  from  all  duly  for  two  weeks. 

Since  the  war  his  time  has  been  divided  between  farm- 
iugand  leachiug  \'oca!  music,  being  very  successful  as 
teacdiei'  of  music  ami  only  I'eliiKjuishing  it  Isecause  of 
lung  dilhcult  y.  lie  has  also  ))een  uiuch  intei'ested  in 
chur(di  and  Sunday  school  woik  and  is  a  uitMuber  of  the 
Free  Baptist  Church  at  South  JXewbury,  j^n.  H, 


NKW     II  AM  I'SII  1  KK    \<»I.I    NTKI'IKS 


<t,'/{//ifA   Corporci/  6^oo/\gre  -^    '?//o^t>// 


'Eighth  Corporal  George  H.  Melviii  was  boni  in  War- 
ner, N.  n.,  N<)veml)er  10,  Ls:];').  At  the  a,u:e  of  nineteen 
lie  went  West,  and  was  employed  in  tin-  constrnetion  <d' 
tli<'  lirst  railroad  in  Iowa.  Ih'  enlisted  as  a  ]»rivate  in 
Company  II,  SixtetMitli  llei;iment,  and  was  i)i-()niot(Ml  to 
the  ranks  of  coi-poi'al  and  se]-i;eant  for  h  flic  lent  service  and 
was  mnstei-e'd  out  willi  the  i-c^inicnt .  Since  tlie  war  he 
has  been  employed  by  thc()ld  Colony  Railroad,  and  is 
no^*'  suj»eM"intendeiit  of  coal  docks  of  the  consolidaled  N. 
Y.,  N.  II.  cV-  llarffoi-d  IJ.  \l.  C...,  at  S..nierse(,  Mass., 
where  he  resides. 


M^  ItlSToKV    OiP    TIIl^]    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

Musician  I^dwin  R.  Hardy,  born,  Hopkinton,  N.  H.; 
enlieted  September  11),  M^(')'2  ;  nge,  HO  ;  discharged  to  date 
August  20,  ISiV.l;  P.  ().  address  Manchester,  N.  H. 

Musician  John  M.  Palmer,  \h)IW,  Sutton,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed Novenil)er  8,  1802  ;  age,  44  ;  discharged  to  date 
August  20,  1808;  died  Decendier  22,  1888,  at  Sutton,  N.  H. 

Wagoner  Zenas  A.  Bartlctt,  born,  Hopkinton,  N.  H.; 
enlisted  September  It),  1802  ;  age,  42  ;  mustered  out 
August  20,  1868  ;  died  March  28,  1887,  Warner,  N.  H. 

PRIVATES. 

Henry  G.  Adams,  l)orn,  l^radford,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
August  20,  1802:  age,  21  :  appointed  corporal  June  17. 
1808;  mustered  out  August  20,  b8()8  ;  died  August  0, 
1877,  at  Newbui'v,  N.  H. 

Israel  Adams,  l)orn,  ]Ve\vl)ury,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)er  20,  18<»2  ;  age,  80  ;  discharged  to  date  August  20, 
1868  ;  died  April  8,  1800,  at  Sutton,  N.  IT. 

Dexter  W.  Allen,  hovn,  Newjiort,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 12,  1862  ;  age,  20  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868  ; 
P.  O.  address  Chicago,  111. 


NKW     liAMPSIiri'vE    VOLrNTKIiKS. 


513 


c 

I 

%€lk 

■Mu, 

ft 

f^^H 

;  »lJ 

/ 

<• 

flHi 

■jllHB 

^cnry  llJ.    SSacie/er. 


Henry  William  Badger  wn^  horn  in  Ne\v})ort,  N.  H., 
May  4,  1842.  Responded  to  the  lirst  c;ill  of  President 
Lincoln  l)y  enlistinf^'  as  private  in  the  First  New  Hamp- 
shire Regiment,  serving  tlie  full  term.  He  re-enlisted 
Octobei"  1),  IS()2,  in  the  Sixteenth  Regiment  ;is  a  member 
of  the  Regimental  Band,  being  at  tlint  time  ;i  mend)ei'(.)f 
the  Ne\v])oi't  ( V)i-net  l^)aiid.  lie  was  mustei'ed  in  (Com- 
pany II,  and  served  with  the  regiment.  lie  retnrne(l  to 
New  Hami)sliire  in  a  very  weakened  condition,  having 
been  oi'dei-ed  to  enter  the  hospitals  at  Poi't  Hudson, 
Nat(diez,  A'i(dvsl)ui'g,    Memphis,  and   Cairo,  but   through 


Ml  IIISToUV    oK    THE    SlXTKKNTIl    IJEiiniENT 

the  kindness  of  stronger  comrades  and  a  determination 
not  to  he  left  hehind  was  enal)led  to  reatdi  Concord  and 
his  home  tlie  same  day.  A  severe  illness  of  three 
months  followed,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  obtained 
liis  discharge  papers.  From  lcS(')4  to  1882  he  was  engaged 
in  huilding  operations  in  his  native  town  and  in  Man- 
chester, N.  ir.  From  ^SS2  to  the  present  time  has  had 
(dmrge  of  the  w^ood  mannfactnring  department,  and  is 
also  instructor  to  the  students  in  their  wood  practice,  at 
the  Washburn  shops  of  tlu'  Worcester  Polytechnic  In- 
stitute, AVorcester,  Mass. 

Stephen  R.  Baileys,  born,  Bath,  Vt.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 8,  ]8()2  ;  age,  44  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1803  ; 
died  August  24,  18(;:5,  at  Concord,  N.  II. 

Levi  W.  BnrneSy  born,  Bradford,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
August  29,  1802  ;  age,  88  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ; 
P.  O.  address  Bradford,  N.  H. 

Hollis  C.  Broekwny^,  born,  ])radford,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
August  30,  1802  ;  age,  32  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1803  ; 
P.  O.  address  Warner,  N.  H. 

John  C.  Ciirkin,  liorn,  Lyndeboro,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tenil)er  4,  1802  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1803  ; 
P.  ().  address  South  Lyndeboro,  N.  II. 

Charles  J).  Cheney,  born,  llillsboro,  N.  TI.;  enlisted 
Septembei'  17,  1802;  age,  18;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1803;  died  Februai-y  20,   ]8',)7,  at  (Miarlestown,  Mass. 

Daniel  Cheneys,  born,  Sutton,  N.  11.;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 17,  1802;  age,  43;  discliargrd  June  27,  18(53,  at  New 
Orleans,  Jja. ;  died  since  mustered  out. 


NEW     II  A  M  I'SII  I  KK    \  (»MIN'l'KEi:S.  olT) 

Luke  Cheney,  l)()ni,  Nenvlmiy,  N.  IL;  enlisted  Sep- 
tenihei  ;20,  ]8()2;  age,  18;  died  August  8,  18(j:i,  at  New 
Orleans.   La. 

Alphonso  Colby,  hoiii,  \Varner,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Sept. 
17.  1S(;2;  age,  P.);  died  May  11,  1808,  at  Brasbear  City,  La. 

Chnrles  G.  Davis,  Ijoiu,  Warner,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)ei'  80,  1802  ;  age,  18.  He  participated  in  tlie  defense 
of  Fort  l^utler,  Donaldson ville,  La.,  June  28  to  July  9, 
1808.  He  was  niustei'ed  out  August  20,  1808;  P.  ().  ad- 
dress Punta  Gorda,  Fla. 

Curtis  Jv.  Davis,  born,  Bradford,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
August  29,  18(')2  ;  age,  21  ;  mustered  (nit  August  20,  1808  ; 
died  Novembei'  17,  1800,  at  Bradford,  N.  H. 

Dustin  W.  Diivis,  horn,  Sutton,  N.  TI.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 2,  1802  ;  age,  27;  mustered  out  August  20,  1808; 
died  since  mustered  out. 

Charles  H.  Diekey,  [Cbarles  H.  Dibbej^  is  tbe  name 
given  in  Adjt.  Gen. 's  report]  boi'U,  Mancbester,  N.  H.; 
enlisted  September  17,  1802  ;  age,  28  ;  discharged  to  date 
August  20,  1808. 

Justus  A.  Dunbar,  born,  Weare,  N.  H.  ;  enlisted 
August  20,  1802;  age,  20 ;  died  Febi-uary  10,  1808,  at 
Carrollton.   La. 

William  N.  Dunfield,  born,  Bradford,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  11,  1802  ;  age,  24  ;  died  June  27,  1808,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Henry  M.  Fairfield,  ])(}\u,  IVew  P.oston,  N.  IL;  enlisted 
Se[»teinber  12.  bS02  ;  age,  28;  discduirged  Fel)iMiary  17, 
1S08,  at  Concord,  N.  IL;  P.  O.  addivss  11  Arlington 
street,  Nashua,  N.  11. 


510 


lUsToliV    OF    Till']    SIXTKI-:.\TIi     REGIMENT 


QtcJmunc/    y^.     S^ojc 


Edmund  P.  Fox,  of  Company  H,  Sixteenth  Regiment 
New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  was  born  in  New  Boston, 
N.  II.,  June  18,  1889.  He  enlisted  April  27,  1861,  in  the 
First  lleglment  New  llampshii-e  \'()luuteers  ;  re-enlisted 
in  the  Sixteentii  Re,i;iment  Octobei'  ](),  1862,  and  served 
until  mustered  out.  He  re-enlisted  in  the  Eighteenth 
Regiment,  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  on  September  20, 
ISd-i,  antl  served  until  the  (dose  of  the  war.  He  was 
elected  town  (derk  of  New  lioston,  X.  H.,  in  1883,  and 
has  held  the  office  since  by  re-election.  He  is  engaged 
in  l)usiness  in  his  native  town. 


Kt:W    HAMl>RltIRt:    VOLlTNTl:El?S.  517 

Charles  H.  Flnnders,  boi-ii,  AVarner,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Sei)t.   IT,  1S(;2;  age,  24;   died  Alio-.  <),  1808,  at  Cairo,  111. 

Alfred  C.  Frazier,  born,  New  York  ;  enlisted  October 
31,  1S()2  ;  age,  21  ;  deserted  November  4,  18(52,  at  Con- 
cord, N.  H. 

HdMiird  H.  Gihhs,  born,  Sudbni-y,  Mass.;  enlisted  Oc- 
tober 20,  18(52  ;  age,  48  ;  uuistered  ont  Angnst  2<>,  18(5;j  ; 
died  since  mustered  out. 

Gardner  Gove,  l)orn,  AVeare,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 12,  18(52;  age,  48  ;  died  August  19,  18(58,  at  Menii»his, 
Tenn. 

Lorrhnan  G.  Gove,  born,  Lowell,  Mass.;  enlisted  No- 
vember If),  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1808  ; 
P.  O.  address  Freetown,  Mass. 

Blanchard  A.  Hardy,  born,  Warnei-,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
September  18,  1802;  age,  28;  died  August  11,  1808,  at 
Mound  City,  111. 

Jiistiee  C.  Harrinian,  born,  AVarner,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  lo,  1802  ;  age,  19  ;  died  May  4,  1863,  at  Baton 
Rouge,  La. 

David  Harvey,  born,  Boston,  Mass  ;  enlisted  October 
81,  1802;  age,  28;  deserted  November  4,  18(52,  at  Con- 
cord, N.  H. 

Andrew  Harwood,  born,  AVarner,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  f).  1802;  age,  2;")  ;  died  August  12,  1808,  near 
A'icksburg,  Miss. 

John  M.  Hemphill,  born,  Warner.  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Septend)er  1(5,  1802;  age,  IS;  died  April  80,  18(58,  at 
New  Orleans,  La. 


518  HISTORY  OF  THE  sixtp:entii  REGI]\n<:NT 

Miciih  C.  Howe,  l)()rn,  Newbury,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember Jl,  18(52;  age,  25;  transfered  from  Company  A  ; 
mustered  out  August  20,  ]8():)  ;  P.  ().  address  Ilenniker, 
N.  H. 

Henrys  Hoy t,  boi-n,  Bradford,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 80,  1802  ;  age,  22  ;  died  July  18,  1808,  at  Port  Hud- 
son, La. 

James  M.  Hort,  ])()i'ii.  Ilillsl)(»ro,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 13,  1802;  age,  28  ;  mustered  out  August  2(»,  1808; 
P.  ().  address  East  Washington,  N.  H. 


TVKW     IIAM  I'SlIIi;!':    VoM'NTKKlIS. 


510 


.^enr^  aC .    ^oAnson. 


Henry  L.  Johnson  \\  as  1)()iii  in  Spiini;tiel(l.  N.  H., 
March  K),  1843.  lie  enlisted  ut  Warner  Se[)teinber  IT), 
1862,  as  a  ])i-ivah'  in  (-oinitauy  11,  Sixteenth  lle,i;inient. 
He  served  with  tlie  reiAiinent  until  May,  ISOo.  lie  was 
in  tlie  l)iilliaiit  defense  of  Fort  Bntler,  at  Doiialdson- 
ville,  La.,  and  in  otlier  active  service  at  the  front  until 
ordered  to  return  to  tln,^  regiment.  He  was  niust(n'ed  out 
Angust  20,  ISCi;).  His  home,  noted  foi-  its  good  (dieer 
and  abounding  hospitality.  |  the  historian  iiisei'ts  this 
without  Comrade  JohnsoiTs  i-equest]  has  been  in  Wash- 
ington, 1).  C,  since   1875,      He  was  elected    president  of 


520  ITTSTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

the  Regimental  Association  at  tlieAngust,  1894,  eiicnnip- 
ment,  and  wns  nnanimoiisly  I'e-elected  in  'n.")  nnd  '96. 

George  P.  Jones,  born,  AVarner,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 22,  lcSn2;  nge,  18.  He  was  nt  Fort  Butler,  Don- 
aldsoiiville,  Ln.,  dui'ing  Mie  attack  of  the  Confederates 
nnder  Geiieinl  Gi'een.  He  was  discliaiged  to  date  Aug- 
ust 20,  18(58;  died  September  12,  18(58,  at  Warner,  N.  II. 

Joseph  Kesar,  [Joseph  Kezai]  boin,  Sutton,  N.  II., 
enlisted  October  80,  18(52;  age,  44  ;  discharged  May  10, 
18(58,  at  New  Orleans,  La.;  died  since  the  war  at  Sutton, 
N.  H. 

Henry  B.  Kimhnll,  born,  IIillsl»oro,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
August  29,  18(52;  age,  21  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868;   died  April  17,  18(i7,  at  Bradford,  N.  II. 

Albert  F.  Marstins,  [Albert  F.  Mastins  is  the  name 
given  in  Adjt.  Gen's  report]  born,  Sutton,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed September  6,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  died  April  29,  1868, 
at  Brashear  City,  La. 

Charles  H.  Melvin,  born,  Warner,  N.  IL;  enlisted 
September  IT),  1862;  age,  27;  discharged  to  date  Aug- 
ust 20,  1868;  P.  O.  address  Bradford,  N.  H. 

Drum  Major  Bclward  Nettleton,  born,  Newpoit,  N. 
H.;  enlisted  September  15,  18(52;  age,  2'^  \  taken  prisoner 
March  17,  1868;  paroled  April  4,  18(58;  mustered  out 
August  20,  1868  ;  P.  O.  address  San  Ph-ancisco,  Cal. 

John  C.  Ordway,  born,  Lyndeboro,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  25,  1862  ;  age,  28  ;  appointed  corpoi-al  June 
18,  1868  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868  ;  P.  O.  address 
Milford,  N.m. 


NEW     IT.\:MPSITTr;K    Vel.rN'I'KKliS. 


521 


John  M.  Johnson  w;is  l)()rii  in  Ileiiiiiker,  N.  II.,  .luly 
2!),  1S4:].  lie  ciilishMl  at  Waniei"  September  15,  18()2,  as 
a  i)rivate  in  ('oiiipaiiy  II,  Sixteenth  Ivegiiiienr  ;  served 
the  full  i)e]-i()(l  of  eiilistiiieiit  aii'l  was  mustered  out  Au- 
gust 2(».  1S()H.  Resided  at  ^Val■llel^  N.  II.,  where  he 
died,  April  S,  1SI){»,  aged  52  years  1)  months  and   10  days. 

Willicini  H.  Onhniy,  hoiii.  Lyndeboio.  iX.  II.;  en- 
listed Ortobei-  :51,  IS(;2;  age,  25;  dis(diarged  lo  (bite 
August  20,  bSO:!  ;   \\  ().  addi-ess  i\laiicliester,  N.  II. 

Horace  Osgood,  l)orn,  Francestown.  N.  11.:  en]iste(l 
October   28,  1802;  age,   2:);  appointed  (•()r])oral    May  8, 


522  HISTOKV    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEfxTMENT 

1868  ;  discharged  to  date  August  20,  \HiVS  ;  P.  ().  address 
Lowell,  Mass. 

Amos  Parker,  born,  Sutton,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber, l(i,  bS(;^;  ;  nge,  Hf)  \  died  April  21,  18()8,  at  New 
Orleans.  La. 

Horace  Penhody,  l)orn.  New  Bost(>n,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Septen)l)er  17,  18(i2  ,  age,  2H  ;  died  June  8,  1863,  at  Baton 
Rouge,  La. 

I^nther  S.  Peahody,  boin.  New  Boston,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed Se])teml)er  17,  1862;  age,  18;  died  July  6.  18()3, 
at  New  Orleans,  La. 

John  Pearson,  born,  Lyndeboro,  N.  TL;  enlisted  Sep- 
t(-nibei-  18,  1862;  age,  20;  died  June  17,  18(58,  at  Baton 
Rouge,  La. 

Robert  B.  Koby,  born,  Sutton,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Novem- 
ber 1,  1862;  age,  88;  deserted  November  12'2,  1862,  at 
Concord,  N.  TL;    P.  O.  addi-ess  Soutli  Sutton.  N.  H. 

William  D.  Roby,  born,  Sutton,  N.  IL;  enlisted  Sej)- 
tenil)er2,  1862  ;  age,  2!)  ;  appointed  corporal  ;  discharged 
to  date  August  20,  1868  ;  died  August  22,  1868,  at  Sutton, 
N.  IL 

I^eonard  Rogers,  born,  Norwich,  Conn.;  enlisted  Se])- 
tembei'  2,  1862  ;  age,  27  ;  deserted  No^end)er  10,  1862,  at 
Concord,  N.  H. 

James  C.  Rowe,  boi-n,  Boscawen,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)er  16,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868  ; 
P.  O.  address  Ilopkinton,  N.  IL 

George  W.  Russell,  born.  Mason,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 22.  1862;  age,  18  ;   mustered  out  August  20,  1868. 


NEW     IIAMPSIITKE    VOLrNTKKFfS.  528 

David  F.  Sargent,  l)(»iii,  W'linu'r,  X.  II.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 2i),  ]S()2;  ai;e,  21  ;  died  .liily  IC,  ISC.:},  at  Poif 
Iliidsoii,  Lu. 

Frank  B.  Sargent,  l)()i'ii,  New  Ijondon,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
]V()veni])er  1<),  lS(i2  ;  ng'e,  1<S  ;  apj.ointed  corixtral  .hine 
1*),  ISC.;};  mnstered  out  August  20,  ISC.:};  P.  O.  address 
Warner,  N.  II. 

Hamilton  P.  Sargent,  Ix.in,  Warner,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
Sei)tenil)er  17,  ]SC)2  ;  age,  24  ;  died  June  1(»,  iSC.:},  at  Era- 
shear  City,  La. 

I^eonard  F.  Sargent,  ])n]]\.  Waiiiei',  N.  II.;  enlisted 
Se])tend)er  10,  1S02  ;  age,  21)  discliaiged  to  date  August 
20,   ISC.;}  ;  died  November  14,  ISC.f),  at  Warner,  N.  H. 

Moses  D.  Sargent,  born,AVarnei',  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
rend)er  22.  1SC)2  ;  age,  28;  deserted  Novem])er  10,  1862, 
at  Concord,  N.  H. 

Moses  J.  Seavey,  born,  Ilenniker,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
August  29,  1862  ;  age,  21  ;  died  August  ;3,  186:3,  near 
Vicdvsburg,  Miss. 

George  Frederick  Smith,  born,  Bradford,  N.  II.;  en- 
listed August  ;}0,  1862  ;  age,  26  ;  appointed  coi-poral  ;  died 
June  11),  1868,  at  New  Orleans,  La. 

Chester  Spaiil ding,  born,  AVasliington,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
SeptemV)er8,  1862  ;  age,  44  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  ISC.:}; 
died  since  the  war. 

Fdward  Stevens,  l)orn,  Biadford,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
Angust  21),  18()2  ;  age,  ID  ;  mustei-ed  out  August  20.  186:}  ; 
P.  ().  address  West  ConcM.id.  N.  11. 

Charles  F^.  Thompson,  born.  Pxiston,  Mass.;  eidisted 
September  13,  1862  ;  age,  18;   discharged  to  date  August 


524  HT.^TOIIY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    KEGIMENT 

l>i>,  ism  ;  P.  O.  address  17  New  street,  East  Boston,  Mass. 

George  L.  Ward,  born,  Ilennikei',  N.  IL;  enlisted 
August  29,  1862  ;  iige,  20  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868  ; 
P.  O.  address  Bradford,  N.  H. 

Leonnrd  H.  Wheeler,  l)oin.  New  London,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed September  IT),  ]8(i2;  nge,  8V)  ;  discluirged  to  date 
August  20,  1808;  died  August  14,  1877,  at  Sutton,  N.  H. 

Benjamin  K.  Whitconib,  born,  Sutton,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  16,  1862  ;  age,  25  ;  died  duly  22,  1808,  at  Port 
Hudson,  La. 

Clarence  L.  Wilkins,  born,  \^'al■uel•,  N.  IL;  enlist<Ml 
Septend)er  ID.  J802  ;  age,  28  ;  ai)['o!iite(l  li()S])ital  s[e\va]-d 
July  2,  1808;  mustered  out  August  20,  1808;  died  since 
the  war. 

Benjamin  B.  Wilson,  born.  New  Pjoston,  N.  IL;  en- 
listed October  2,  1802  ;  age,  44  ;  died  March  25,  1868,  at 
Baton  Rouge,  La. 


^: 


:^ 


ROSTER     OF     COMPANY     I. 


CaptninDnvid  Buffuni,  2(1,  eiilistt'd  Ocl-ol)^]-  If),  lh''(;-i; 
age,  41  ;  died  .luiie  11),  ISC)!),  at  New  Orleans,  La. 

Pirst  IJcutcnant  Judson  Wilkins,  son  of  A1)i:iiii 
and  Sarali  Eiiiiiioiis  Wilkins.  was  l)()rn  in  l^eterhoio, 
N.  II.,  Mai'cli  4,  ISO',).  His  cai-ly  advanta.ues  were  very 
meagre,  and  tlie  education  of  liis  youth  was  tlie  j-esult 
of  ()l)sei'vation  I'atlu^r  tliau  that  of  school  pi'ixileges.  .Vt 
the  early  age  of  sixteen  years  he  enlisted  in  the  State 
Militia,  and  gi'adually  rose  throngh  the  different  ]'anks 
from  first  lieutenaut  to  captain,  majoi-.  lieutenent  coloiud 
and  colonel  of  the  4'wenty-second  IJegiinent  New  Hamp- 
shire State  Militia,  wliicdi  he  coiunianded  tliree  years, 


526  HISTOIJY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    IJEGIMENT 


He  was  extensively  engni>ed  in  inaimfachu'iiiti-  and  in 
liotel  bnsiness  and  sta,n'ing  in  Andierst,  AVilton,  Mi] ford 
and  Lowell,  Mass.  After  the  snrvey  of  tlie  AVilton  rail- 
]()ad  lie  oj^ened  the  Pine  Valley  Honse  in  Milford,  board- 
ing and  having  charge  of  heljt  nntil  the  completion  of 
the  road.  In  I.Sol  he  moved  to  AVashington,  N.  H., 
where  he  soon  after  bought  the  Lovell  House  and  ran  it 
as  a  hotel  until  August,  1802,  when  he  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  Company  I,  Sixteenth  Regiment.  He  Avas  com- 
missioned first  lieutenent  of  his  company  in  Noveml)er. 
Lieutenant  W'ilkins  passed  the  voyage  from  New  York 
(Jity  to  New  Oi-leans  in  joyful   anticii)ati<fn   of  meeting 


NEW    TIAMI'SIIl  HK    V< )  MTNTEEKS.  527 

his  son  Tlniiiiltoii.  :i  iiieiiibpr  of  the  Eighth  New  Hanip- 
sliii-e  N'oliniteeis,  l)iit  ii})()ii  liis  airiviil  lie  received  tlie 
sad  infelligeiice  that  his  son  had  died  witli  swatnp  fevei- 
on  the  fifteenth  of  December,  live  days  previous  to  his 
arrival.  This  seemed  a  cruel  blow  by  which  he  was  left 
chihlless. 

June  20,  180:5,  he  received  his  commission  as  ca])tain, 
and  was  discharged  as  such  with  the  reo-iment  August 
20,  IcSO:),  his  term  of  service  having  expired.  He  served 
faithfully  Avith  the  regiment  in  all  its  movements  at  Bra- 
shear  City,  F(;rt  Burton  and  the  siege  about  and  in  Port 
Hudson  after  its  sui-render.     He  died  July  14,  1887. 


n28  HISTORY    OF    TIIK    SIXTEKNTII     REGIMENT 


Oofont^  ^I'cutennnf  brooks  ^7^.    'i£^c66cr. 


Second  Lieiiteiuint  Brooks  K.  Webber  was  born  in 
Boscaweii,  N.  IL,  August  17,  1887.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  New  llani[)sliii-e  l)nr  iu  18,11),  niul  eidisted  in  tlie  fall 
ol'  I8()2,  from  Antrim.  N.  II.  liel'ore  the  regiment  left  the 
state  he  was  commissidiied  st'coiid  lieutenant  of  Coni- 
l)aiiy  I.  In  the  summer  of  \SiV.\,  lie  was  commissioned 
fii'st  lieutenant,  l)ut  never  mustere(l  in.  On  returning 
home  he  resumed  his  pr()f(\ssion  at  Antrim  and  was  mar- 
i-ied  in  18(;:>.  In  18(').')  he  moved  to  Ilillsboro,  N.  H., 
^^hel•e  lie  lias  since   lived,  and    ]»raclic<Ml  his    profession. 


NKW     IIA.M  I'S|II1;k    VOLT  NTKKKR.  520 

First  Sergeant  Charles  W.  Seott,  Ijoiii,  llichmond, 
N.  II.;  enlisted  Septemlx'i'  (>,  18(i2  ;  :i.u<',  24;  iniistei-ed 
out    AiiLi-iisr    20,    ISC.H;    P.  ().  nddivss    W  iiiclieshM-,  N.   II. 

Seeond  Sergeant  Rnfns  Freeman,  l)()iii,  Slinioii, 
Mass.;  enlisted  Septend)er  o,  18()2  ;  n:j,'e,  :')();  musteicd 
out  Aiiiiust  20,  ISi;;];   P.  ().  address    Keeiie,  N.   il. 

Third  Sergeant  George  W.  Carr,  born,  \V:\sIli]!^■ton, 
N.  TI.;  enlisted  September  S,  l.''(52;  ai;'e,  ;!,");  musleivd 
out  August  20,  18()8  ;  P.  O.  nddi'ess  East  Washington, 
N.  11. 

Fonrth  Sergeant  Joseph  H.  Hill,  born,  Iioyalston. 
Mass.;  eidist(^d  October*.),  18(52;  age,  21  ;  niuslei<'d  out 
August  20,  I8(i:',  ;  V.  ().  addi'ess  :!1  (hirroll  stivet.  Woi'- 
cestt'i'.  Mass. 

Fifth  Sergeant  Stephen  W.  Williams,  boiii,  War- 
Aviek,  Mass.;  enlisted  Septeinbei-  12,  1SG2  ;  age,  oo  ;  must- 
ered out  Angust  20,  ISO'S  ;  P.  O.  address  44  Cottage  street, 
Canibridgeport,  Mass. 

First  Corporal  Oscar  C.  Stiles,  born,  Greenfield,  N. 
H.;  enlisted  September  13,  1862;  age,  41  ;  mustered  out 
August  20,  1868;  died  Greenfield,  N.  H.,  May  27,  1896, 
aged  75. 

Second  Corporal  Julins  M.  Whipple,  born,  Ri(di- 
mond,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Septend)er  5,  1862  ;  age.  28;  must- 
ered  out  Auu-ust2(),  1S6.H  ;  died  in  b8V)4. 


IIISTOiJY    OF    THE    StJ^TJ^ENTlt    REGIMENT 


ijAtrci  Corpora/  ^oscp/i  tS.    ^jrooAs. 

Third  Corporal  Joseph  S.  BrooA'S  was  born  in  Unity, 
Maine,  and  enlisted  Septenil)er  IT),  1802;  age,  41.  He 
moved  to  Antrim,  N.  11.,  abont  1848  and  enlisted  Sep- 
tendjer  lo,  18G2.  He  was  apj^ointed  corporal  in  Companj^ 
T.  He  died  of  dysentei  y  on  his  way  home  August  27, 
1803,  at  Memphis,  Tenn.  Experienced  religion  during 
his  army  life,  so  it  was  said  of  him,  "He  lost  life  but 
gained  Heaven." 

Fourth  Corporal  Dnniel  H^.  Woodward,  Ixuii.  'i'roy, 
N.  H.;  enlisted  Septemljer  (5,  18(52  ;  age,  25  ;  mustered  out 


NEW  iia:\ipsiiii;e  V(>lt:nteers.  t)'M 

August  20,  18(58;  P.  ().  address  care  Boiistield  Wooden 
Wave  Co.,  Miiiii(^n])olis,  Minn. 

Fifth  Corpornl  lAicius  H.  Wilson,  \)^)l^\^,  Wasliiiigton, 
N.  11.;  enlisted  September  2,  1802  ;  age,  18  ;  nuisteredout 
Angust  20,  18(58  ;  died  at  East  Washington,  N.  IL,  since 
the  war. 

Sixth  Corporal  L/eonard  Lyman,  born,  Troy,  N.  H.; 
enlisted  September  18,  1802;  age,  20;  mnstered  out 
August  20,  1863;  died  October  20,  1894,  at  Saginaw, 
Mich. 


•A-) 


IIIS'I'OlfY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    UECUMENT 


fSGucnf/i  Corpora/  'J)avtc/  '26^.    ^i//. 


Seventh  Corporal  Dnvicl  W.  Hill,  Company  I,  Six- 
teeiifh  Regiment,  was  born  in  West  Swanzey,  N.  H., 
Apvil  4,  1S88,  and  cnme  of  a  pati'iotie  race.  His  fatliei 
was  a,  soldier  in  tlie  wai'  of  l.'-d^,  and  liis  lirandfntlier  was 
in  tlie  l^evoliitionary  War  and  fonglit  at  tlie  l)attle  of 
HuiduM'  Hill. 

TIk'  subject  of  this  sIkcIcIi  left  lioiue  in  b*^.")!*  and  went 
to  ( "aiid)iidge,  ATass.,  to  leai-n  tlie  ))]'ass-linislie]'  trade 
wil  li  I  he  .1 .  .1.  Wa]  woi'tli  i\Iann  fact  ii  ling  Company .  AVlien 
I  lie  war  broke  out  li(>  bd't  the  sliop  and  went  to  liis  native 
town    and     enlisted     Septeiuber    (>.     b'^Ci'J.     under    David 


NEW     Jl  AM  I'SlllHIO    YOLUNTKKIJS.  i)'S:i 

Eiiffiim,  wlio  afterwards  was  captain.  He  enlisted  as  a 
]irivatp.  l)iit  was  ])r()nioted  to  a  coi-poral  wliile  in  caiiq) 
at  ( 'oiicoi-d. 

W  liilc  in  the  swamps  (d'  Ijoiiisiana  Ikm-ohI  I'acted  rlien- 
niatisiii,  cliills  and  fevei-,  and  lias  snlfered  a,  ,ii,Teat  deal  in 
(•()ns('(|U(Mi('e.  He  was  on  hoard  the  ,iiUid)oat  i'hfhni  in 
the  engagenieat  with  the  ('on federate  i>unboat  Mar//  7'., 
at  Fort  Bnrton,  Biirte  a  la  Rose,  La.,  April  20,  IWV-^. 

The  Clifton  carried  seven  gnns,  two  nine-inch  Dalil- 
grens,  four  sni()othd)orf'  forty-two  pounders  and  one 
fliirty  [)ounder  Parrot,  and  a  crew  of  good,  l)rave  fellows 
as  ever  walked  a  (h'ck. 

Tie  was  mustered  out  with  his  regiment  at  Concoi'd,  N. 
11.,  August  20,  ISO)).  lie  returned  to  Cambridge  and 
learned  his  trade, remaiinng  with  the  Walworth  Compan}', 
eight  years,  lie  then  went  to  the  city  of  New  York  foi- 
two  years,  and  Newport,  R.  I.,  for  about  live  years,  then 
to  Haydenville,  Mass.,  about  eighteen  years  ago,  and  has 
worked  for  the  Haydenville  Manufacturing  Company 
ever  since.  Was  on  the  board  of  engineers  several  years 
and  was  (diief  engineer  of  the  fire  department.  He  has 
been  a  member'  of  .Vmicable  Lodge  of  F  and  A  Masons, 
of  Cand)ridge,  for  thirty  years  and  of  Washington  Com- 
mandcry  No.  4,  Knights  Templai',  of  New[)()rt,  H.  1.,  for 
neai'ly  twenty  yeais.  He  is  also  a  member  of  W.  L. 
Hakei-  Post  SC.  (|.  A.  R.,  of  Northampton,  Mass.  lie 
resides  on  South  ^lain  street,  Haydenville,  Mass. 

Hi'silith  Corpornl  Cyrus  H.  Sinionds,  ])orn,  Aidrim, 
N.  H.;  eidisted  September  L"),  IS(;2  ;  age,  oo  ;  mustered 
oat  Aug.  20,  ISCS  ;  died  Mandi  ;50,  1802,  at  Antrim,  N.  II. 


584  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Musician  William  J.  Bradford,  born,  Hudson,  Maine; 
enlisted  October  18,  bS02  :  age,  28;  discharged  to  date 
August  20,  1868;  P.  O.  address  09  Main  street,  Saco, 
Maine. 

Musician  Harrison  H.  Hardy,  born,  Francestown, 
N.  H.;  enlisted  September  1,  1802;  age,  82  ;  mustered 
out  August  20,  1808;  P.  O.  address  lir)8  Harrison  avenue 
Boston,  Mass. 

Wagoner  Nahuni  Putney,  born,  Fitzwilliam,  N.  H., 
enlisted  September  f),  1802  ;  nge,  44  ;  died  June  12,  1808, 
at  Algiers,  La. 

PRIVATES. 

Roswell  C.  Aldrich,  [Roswell  O.  Aldricli  in  Adjt. Gen's 
report]  l)orn,  Marlboro,  Vt.;  enlisted  September  0,  1802; 
age,  24;  mustered  out  August  20,  1808;  P.  O.  address 
AVestport,  N.  H. 

Andrew  S.  Arnold,  l)orn,  Winchester,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed Sex)tember  18,  1802  ;  age,  88  ;  mustered  out  Aug- 
ust 20,  1808  :  P.  O.  address  Tolland,  Conn. 

Alden  F.  Ballon,  boi-n,  Richmond,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Sei)tember  f),  1802  ;  age,  20  ;  discharged  to  date  August 
20,  1808;  died  September  2.   bS08,  at  Chicago,    111. 

Gilnian  I,.  Beckwith,  born.  Lempster,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Septend)er  2,  1802;  age,  88;  died  June  18,  1803,  at  Car- 
i-ollton.  La. 

Leonard  O.  Bixby,  born,  Acwoith,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  lo,  1802  ;  age,  18  ;  died  January  27,  1808,  at 
Carrollton,  La. 


NEW    HAMPSlIIKE    Vol.lNTKKWS  08;") 

Albert  W.  Bolles,  l)()iii,  Riclimond,  N.  11.;  enlisted 
September  5,  1802  ;  Jige,  18  ;  iniistered  out  Aiiuust  20, 
1868  ;  died  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  sinee  the  \vai\ 

Sanford  Bowles,  hoi-n,  Lisbon,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember (5,  1862;  age,  87;  died  June  7,  1868.  at  Bnisheai- 
City,  L:i. 

Henrys  R.  Bowen,  l)orn,  Piehmond,  N.  TT.;  enlisted 
Septend)ei'  f),  1862;  age,  22  \  mustered  out  August  2(i, 
1868;  died  at  Swanzey,  1800. 

Smith  H.  Brockwuy,  boin,  Washington,    X.   II.;  en- 
listed Septeml)er  If),  1862;   :ige,  27;   (lis(di:irged    for  dis- 
ability December  4,   1862,  at    Concord,    N.  11.;   P.  ().  ad 
dress  Marlow,  N.  PI. 

James  H.  Bnffuiu,  boin,  Richmond,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
September  o,  1862;  nge,  28  ;  mustered  out  August  2<», 
1868;  P.  O.  address  Spofford,  N.  H. 

Jnrvis  Cuss,  l)orn,  Picdimond,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Nov.  1, 
1862;   age,   44;    died   June  20,  1868,  at  New  Orleans,  La. 

Albert  Crnm,  l)oi'n  l)ul)lin,  N.  11. ;  enlisted  September 
1,  1862;  age,  26;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868;  P.  O. 
address  Antrim,  N.  11. 

Henry  Crane,  born,  AVashington,  N.  IL;  enlisted  Sep- 
tembei-2,  186)8  ;  age,  48  ;  died  May  24,  1868,  at  Putte  a  la 
Rose,  La. 

I^evi  M.  Curtis,  born,  Antrim,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sejitem- 
ber  IT),  18(52  ;  age,  27  ;  mustei-ed  out  August  20,  1868  ;  P. 
O.  addiess  Antrim,  N.  II. 

Gilman  S.  Danforth,  boiii,  Acwoi-th,  N.  11.;  enlisted 
Septend)er  11),  1862;  age,  18;  discdiaigvd  for  disabilities 
May  80,  1868,  at  New  Orleans,  La.;  died  18?:). 


rVM')  IIISTOllY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH     REGIMENT 

I^orenzo  Dexter,  })()vn,  Boston,  Mass.;  enlisted  Sej)- 
teniber  5,  lcS02  ;  age,  88  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1{'G8  ; 
died  September  21,  1892,  at  Troy,  N.  Y. 

John  G.  Dingnian,  born,  Canajoliarie,  N.  Y.;  enlisted 
September  T),  l<'-'02;  age.  48  ;  mnstei'ed  out  August  ;^(', 
18()8  ;  died  b^'l)2  at  AVin(diester,  N.  H. 

Gihuiin  Diinhip,  born,  Antrim,  N.  TT.:  enlisted  Sep- 
tendx'r  IT),  b^'(;2  ;  age,  41  ;  mustered  out  Augusl  20,  18('8: 
was  ai)pointed  sergeant,  but  reduced  to  tlie  raid\s  for 
Some  fi'ivial  excuse  to  promote  another  nuui  ;   died  ISTH. 

Horatio  A.  Hnton,  born,  \Vasliington,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
September  22,  18G2  ;  age,  88  ;  mustered  out  August  L'c, 
18(:.8  ;  P.  O.  address -18  Factory  street,  Nasliua,  A\  II. 

Stephen  S.  Freneh,  born,  Wincliestei',  N.  ll.;eidisted 
Novembei-  i;],  1862;  age,  18;  mustered  out  August  20,  1808; 
re-<'nlisted  in  ('oni])any  T,  Ninth  New  Hampshire  A'olnn- 
teers  ;  lost  a  leg  before  Petersburg,  Va.,  June,  1804;  P. 
().  address  145]  West  Third  street,  Dayton,  Ohio. 

Charles  li.  Gray,  born,  Lebanon,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Oc- 
tober 20,  1802;  age,  21  ;  deserted  Novend^er  1,  1802,  at 
Concord,  N.  H. 

Reuben  S.  Green,  born,  Stoddard,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)er  20,  1802  ;  age,  18  ;  died  Jane  21,  1808,  at  New  Or- 
leans, La. 

William  Wallaee  Hall,  son  of  Cai)tain  Ebenezei-  Ilall, 
w^as  born  at  Washington,  N.  II.,  May  8,  1888.  At  rhe 
age  of  eight  he  w^as  apprenticed  to  an  uncle  on  a  farm 
during  his  minority.  His  education  was  I'eceived  in  a 
district  school  of  from  ten  to  fourteen  weeks  schooling  a 
year,  with  one  term  at  Tubbs'  L'nion  Academy  at  Wash- 


NKW     ITA!M  I'SIIIIMO    VO  LU  NT  i:  ERS. 


r 


/sN»    ^HN^y 


'"'W^ 


■%r  ^'  "*. 


iii,i;t(»ii.  Oil  nrriviiiii,- at  liis  iiiaj(»ri  I  y  lie  ret  iinn  d  li<»iii<' 
to  care  for  an  invalid  father  and  iiiotlier,  and  continued 
farmin^a;  until  Sept<Miil)er  ]:>,  18(Vi.  Avlieii  Ih'  enlisted  in 
(Vjnipany  I,  Sixteenth  llegiment.  lie  partici j)ated  with 
the  I'eo-inieiit  in  all  its  movements,  l)ein<i-  absent  only 
eleven  days,  wlien  sick  witli  the  measles  in  hospital  ai 
(yai'iolltoii,  Ija.  lie  ret  nriied  home  and  ^\■as  ninstei'ed  out 
with  the  re,<;inienl  Anutist  20,  ISO:).  In  coiise([nence  of 
his  army  exjjosures  and  experiences,  he  was  on  his  i<'- 
turn  '"  a  mere  Avalking  skeleton."  lie  regained  his  health 
sufficiently,  however,  to  pernnt  him  to  engage  again  in 
farming.      Since  1876,  he  has  resid*'d  in  I'nity,  IN.  II. 


588  lII^iToUV    OF    'I'lIK    SIXTEENTH    KE(in[ENT 


CAai/es    .^arf. 


Charles  Hurt,  the  sul)je('t  of  this  sketch,  the  young- 
est son  of  Charles  and  Ruth  (Day)  Hart,  was  ll)orn 
in  Stoddard,  N.  H.,  February  28,  1884.  He  attended 
tlie  village  school  until  twelve  years  of  age  and  then  en- 
gaged in  farming.  When  nineteen  years  of  age  he  mar- 
ried Lois  Due,  of  Hancock,  N.  H.  He  then  moved  to 
Antrim,  N.  H.,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  nntil  1862, 
when  he  laid  aside  all  home  ties  and  enlisted  in  Co.  I, 
Sixteenth  Regiment,  serving  nine  months,  when  he 
was  honorably  discharged  by  expiration  of  service. 


NEW     HAM  I'SIII];]-:    VOLUNTEERS. 


r)80 


In  ]8()4  he  re-enlisted  in  ('omiuiny  E.  Heavy  Ai-tillery, 
First  New  Hani|).sliii-('  \'()]iiiit(M'rs,  and  sei-viii^-  until  tln^ 
(dose  of  the  wai'.  On  let iii-iiiiiii'  home  he  purcdiased  a 
I'ariii.  in  llancocdv.  N.  II..  where  he  lived  for  sevei'al 
years,  and  since  that  time  lie  has  made  fai-min,ii'  his  occn- 
jtatioii.  He  now  owns  and  lives  on  his  faim.  in  Hills- 
boro,  N.  11.,  Avhere  he  and  his  dear  wife  enjoy  a  delitiht- 
fnl  and  hajjpy  home. 

Justus  Heath,  hoi-n.  Stoddard.  N.  II.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 29,  1S()2;  age,  44;  died  Jnne  27,  lcS(5;],  at  New- 
Orleans.  La. 

Dennis  Herhihy,  boiii.  Iiehuid  ;  eiiliste<l  Se]»tend)er 
11,  1S02  ;  age,  :n  ;  mnstered  ont  Angnst  20,  ISC:^;  died 
1881  on  the  Hndson  river. 

George  L.  Herriek,  l)orn,  Milford,  N.  FI.;  enlisted 
Sej)teniber  15,  1802;  age,  2.")  ;  mustered  out  August  2(>, 
1808:  P.  O.  address  Bennington,  N.  11. 

Sy^h  ester  Horey,  born,  Swanzey,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 8,  18()2  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  18()8  ; 
died  18(54  at  Swanzey,  N.  H. 

Theodore  Hover,  boiii,  Swanzey,  N.  II.  ;  enlisted 
Octo1)er  18,  b8(')2  ;  age,  20;  mustered  out  An.uMist  20, 
1808  ;   died  18()4  at  Swanzey,  N.  II. 

Lemuel  ().  Hunt,  boiii,  Swanzey,  N.  II.,  enlisted  No- 
vember 18,  1802  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  18(58  ; 
P.  O.  address  Omaha,  Neb. 

George  Johnson,  born,  Hartford,  ('onn.;  enlisted  No- 
vember 18,  18(52;  age,  24  ;  deserted  November  24,  18(52, 
New  Yoj'k  (Jity. 


540  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Joseph  Johnson,  born,  Hartford,  Conn.;  enlisted  No- 
venil)ei'  18,  1S()2;  age,  22;  deserted  November  24,  1S62, 
New  York  City. 

David  W.  Lacey,  [David  W.  Lncy  is  the  name  given 
in  Adjt.  Gen.'s  report]  born,  Jaffrey,  N.  11.;  enlisted 
September  18,  1862;  age,  33;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1803  ;  died  Sei)tember  22,  1885,  at  East  Jaffrey,  N.  H. 

John  F.  Lang,  l)(»in,  AVurtenil)ui"g,  Germany  ;  enlisted 
Sei)tember  11).  18(52;  age,  45  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
18(53;  P.  ().  address  Troy,  N.  H. 

Joseph  Jeeds,  V)orn,  Franklin,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 9,  18G2  ;  age,  24  ;  died  June  16,  1863,  at  New  Or- 
leans, La. 

Patrick  Mahoney  J  hoi  n,  Ireland;  enlisted  September 
20,  1862  ;  age,  39  ;  mustered  out  August  20.  1863. 

John  C.  Millen,  born,  Washington,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  8,  1862  ;  age,  23  ;  mustei-ed  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  died  November  6,  1896,  at  Wasliington,  N.  II. 

Moses  P.  Millen,  born,  Washington,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  2,  1862  ;  age,  23  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  P.  O.  address  East  Andover,  N.  II. 

Addison  C.  Messinger,  born,  Stoddard,  N.  II.:  enlisted 
September  29,  1862;  age,  25  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868  ;  killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  June  3,  1864. 

John  A.  Morse,  born,  Douglass,  Mass.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 5,  1862  ;  age,  20  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  18(53  • 
died  February  24,  1882,  at  Winehester,  N.  II, 


NEW     IIA.MI'SIIIIJK    VOJ.rNTEKUS. 


541 


ZTr/'sfram    7//.     SPare/e. 


Tristram  M.  Paige  was  boi'ii  in  Antrim,  ]\ .  11.,  April 
^r),  ISHf).  lie  was  a  descHudaMt  of  John  Paige,  wlio  was 
l)orn  ill  Dedliaiu,  England,  and  came  to  this  eoiintry  in 
1.")<S(;,  in  (Tovernor  Wintliroi)'s  ('oni})any,  and  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  Boston  in  MV.'A). 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  Lizzie  M.  AVliit- 
niore  Novcml)ei',  I  SOS.  lie  was  in  the  ])cdstead  l)iisiiiess 
until  his  factoi'V  was  burned,  Febru;ii-y  S,  bSTCi.  Since 
then  he  has  worked  for  his  br(»tlier,  K.  C.  J'aige.  He 
Jias  no  children. 


542  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

He  (^nlisted  Sei)tember  15,  1802,  aged  20,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  August  20,  1808.  His  post-office  address  is 
Autrim,  N.  H. 

AVliile  ill  tlie  army  he  believed  in  tlie  right  of  confis- 
cation rather  than  starvation,  and  several  amusing  stories 
are  tohl  of  liis  fearless  and  open  appropriation  of  food 
and  useful  ai'ti(des,  not  for  his  own  use,  but  for  that  of 
his  coniX)any. 

John  A.  Paine,  horn,  Smithheld,  R.  1.;  enlisted  No- 
vember 1,  1802  ;  age,  44  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  b'^OB  ; 
died  .  1808. 

Dexter  Palmer,  l)orn,  Richmond,  N.  H.;  enlisted  No- 
vember 1.  1802  :  age,  89  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1803; 
died  August  28,  1808,  at  Concord,  N.  H. 


Ni':w  iTAMrsrmn':  voLrxTKKiis. 


548 


!*!u 

'1     1 

i 

^.^'^^^ 


Charles  French  Parinenter  was  the  son  of  George 
F.  and  Lucinda  (Grreen)  Parmenter  and  grandson  oi; 
Deacon  Amos  and  Tiypliena  (Bannister)  Parmenter.  He 
was  boi-n  in  Dovei-,  N.  H.,  Angnst  28,  1888.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  scdiools  of  Anti'iin.  He  enlisted 
8ei)renil)ei'  IT),  1S(;2.  Died  at  Carrolltoii,  La..  February 
11,  18(58.  His  body  was  ])r(»ught  liome  and  lies  in  ^Nlaple- 
wood  Cemeteiy,  Antriuj. 

Frnncis  S.  Piper,  born,  Stei-ling,  ]\rass.  ;  eidisted 
()ct()l)er  8,  1802  ;  age,  18  ;  died  August  18,  U^():>,  at  Mem- 
phis, Tenn. 


544  HISTORY    op    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 


IP^ 


7Z^a//aco    ^.      SFioaci. 


Wallace  I,.  Reed  was  born  in  Newport  N.  H.,  July 
22,  1842.  Left  school  to  enlist  in  C'onipuny  I,  Sixteenth 
New  Hampshire  Yohinteers.  AVas  with  his  reo-inient  at 
CaiTollton,  Butte  ci  la  Kose,  Port  Hudson  and  other 
"summer  resorts/'  Was  diseharoed  at  Concord  after 
serving  full  time.  Is  now  (March  1,  1897)  a  well  known 
citizen  of  his  native  town. 

Richard  R.  Ramsdell,  born,  Richmond,  N.  H  ;  en- 
listed September  IH,  18(;2  ;  age,  HI  ;  mustered  out  Aug- 
ust 20,  1808  ;  died  181)4  at  Swanzey,  N.  H. 


NKW    IlAMPSlrrUE    VOl.I'NTKEl^S.  /545 

Dnrius  Ritchie,  l)()iii,  Jatfrey,  N.  II.;  eiilistt'd  Sep- 
tenil)ei'  lo,  1802;  ng'e,  2(5;  discliari;e(l  to  date  Aiii;iist 
20.   1S()H;  died  August  27,  1808,  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

George  C.  Ritchie,  V)oin,  Peterboro,  N.  H.;  eulisted 
September  If),  1862  ;  age,  31  ;  mastered  out  August  20, 
1868  ;   P.  O.  address  East  Jaffrey,  N.  H. 

Edward  W.  Severance,  l)()i'n,  AVasliiiigton,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed Septeudjer  2,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  uiustered  out  August 
20,  1868;  P.  O.  address  East  Washington,  N.  11. 

Patrick  Sheehan,  born,  Ireland  ;  enlisted  Septend)er 
11,  1862  ;  age,  28  :  uiustered  out  August  2o,  1868  ;  P.  O. 
address  West  Gardiner,  Mass. 

Stilnian  P.  Simons,  l)()rn,  Dunstable,  Mass.;  enlisted 
Sei)teiuber  22,  1862  ;  age,  83  ;  mustered  out  August  2o, 
1863;  P.  O.  address  Soldiers^  Home,  Tilton,  N.  H. 


540 


lilSTOIlV    OF    TItK    stXTEKNTIt    UEoniKNT 


j 

hZ^ 

/ 

-^^USfOK/tt"'      WWRSP, 

f 

/ 

4 

i 

-    f 

■'.        1 

- 

/^  . 

'jH 

- 

i 

^ 

«■- 

-A 

^ 

■^.^^-^ 

•jeort/e  16^.    Smt't/i, 


George  Wilkins  Smith,  son  of  l'a])tain  Leander 
Smith,  was  born  in  Mount  Vernon,  N.  H.,  April  lU,  1835. 
Pie  came  to  Antrim  with  his  father  in  ]^(\i),  and  enlisted 
Septenibei"  1."),  18():2,  as  })rivate  in  Comjiany  T,  Sixteenth 
Regiment.  lie  was  mnstered  out  August  20,  18(58,  and 
died  October  IT)  of  the  same  year  in  C()ns<^(iuence  of  his 
severe  arni}^  exitosures,  at  Antrim,  X.  II.  He  was  the 
last  of  three  brothers  who  gave  their  lives  in  the  patriotic 
defence  of  the  Union. 


KEW    HAMPSHIRE    VoLI'NTEERS.  647 

Ira  C.  Smith,  [Ira  Sniitli  is  the  name  given  in  Adjt. 
rjcn.'s  ve]»()rt]  born,  IIul)bai'dston,  Mass.;  enlisted  Sep- 
teiiiber  b"),  bS()2  ;  age,  44;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868; 
died  Mar(di  20,  1880,  at  East  Riudge,  N.  H. 

Samuel  P.  Stephenson,  born,  Svvanzey,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
October  14,  1802;  age,  18;  discliarged  for  disabilities 
jSIarcli  0,  18(33,  at  New  Orleans,  La.;  P.  O.  address  hsoiith 
Glens  Falls,  N.  Y. 

Demerit  W.  Stone,  [Demerit  Stone  is  the  name  given 
in  Adjt.  (len.'s  report]  born,  Swanzey,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
0('tol)er  13,  1862  ;  age,  18;  died  June  18,  1863,  at  New 
( )rleans.  La. 

Henry  S.  Striekland,  born,  Lempster,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
September  22,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;  died  March  16,  1893,  at  Newport,  N.  II. 

Alfred  A.  Tolman,  born,  Troy,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember o,  1S62  ;  age,  21  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ; 
died  Novembei'  23,  1864,   at  Keene,  N.  H. 

Henry  H.  Tolman,  born,  Troy,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Sejj- 
tember  5,  1862  ;  age,  19  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863  ; 
P.  O.  address  Richmond,  N.  II. 

John  Trainor,  [John  Tranor  is  name  given  in  Adjt. 
Gen's  report]  born,  Boston,  Mass.;  enlisted  November 
14,  1862;  age.  19  ;  deserted  November  14,  1862,  at  Con- 
cord, N.  K. 

n.  Dwiiiht  Twitchell,  [Edward  I).  Twitchell  is  the 
name  given  in  Adjt.  Gen's  report]  born,  Ontario,  N.  Y.; 
enlisted  September  15,  1862  ;  age,  21  ;  mustered  out  Aug- 
ust 20,  1863  ;  P.  O.  address  C)8  Hudson  street,  Rochester, 
N.  Y. 


548  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Tolford  R.  Twitchell,  born,  Webster,  N.  Y.;  en- 
listed i^eptember  lo,  1862  ;  age,  38  ;  mustered  out  Aiig-- 
iist  20,  1808  ;  P.  O.  address  East  Wasliiugton,  N.  H. 

Oratus  J.  Vary,  [Oratns  J.  Verry  is  the  name  given 
in  Adjt.  Gen's  report]  born,  Calais,  Maine  ;  enlisted 
October  4,  1862  ;  age,  20  ;  mustered  out  August 20,  1863; 
P.  O.  address  West  Swanzey,  N.   TI. 

Noyes  G.  Wheeler,  born,  Troy,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 8,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  discharged  for  disabilities  June 
2,  1»63,  at  New  Orleans,  La.;  P.  O.  address  Orange, 
Mass. 

Vihbert  C.  Whipple,  l)orn,  Warwick,  Mass.:  enlisted 
September  o,  1862  ;  age,  21  ;  mustered  out  August  2o, 
1863  ;   P.  O.  address  Readsboro,  \t. 

William  {W.)  Whipple,  (2d)  born,  Warwick,  Mass., 
enlisted  September  5,  1862  ;  age,  33  ;  mustered  out  Aug- 
ust 20,  1863;  P.  O.  address  Rindge,  N.  H. 

Sanford  »S\  Wilher,  born,  Amherst,  Mass.;  enlisted 
September  9,  1862;  age,  41  ;  died  July  21,  1863,  at  Xew 
Orleans,  La. 

John  Williams,  born,  Manchester,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
November  14,  1862  ;  age,  22  ;  deserted  November  14, 
1862,  at  Concord,  N.  H. 

Thomas  Nelson  Woodward,  born,  Hul)bardston, 
Mass.;  enlisted  October  8,  1862;  age,  18;  mustered  out 
August  20,  1863  ;  P.  O.  address  Keene,  N.  H. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY   K. 


Cnptnin  Joseph  K.  Thncher,  l)()i'n,  l^iddeford,  Maine; 
appointed  captain  Nov.  4,  1S()2;  age,  87;  niustefed  out 
Aug.  20,    J8(;:!;   (lied  .laii.  T),   1S92,  at  Portsnioiitli.  N.  H. 

First  Lieutenant  George  T.  Wildes,  born,  Massa- 
clinsetts;  enlisted  October  21,  1802  ;  age,  2U  ;  died  April 
20,  18():'),   at  New  Orleans,  La.      See  page  ()(>. 

Second  hieiitennnt  Williiim  A.  Haven,  l)orn,  Ports- 
moutli,  N.  II.;  enlisted  October  21,  1802;  age,  81;  ap- 
pointed second  lieutenant  November  4,  18()2  ;  api)ointed 
tirst  lientenant  Ai)iil  25,  1808  ;  not  nmstered  ;  mustej-ed 
out  August  20,  180;5;   P.  ().  address  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 


m) 


JIIS'I'OKY    OF   THE   SIXTEENTH    Tvl<:(Tmi<:NT 


^I'rst  aL,ieu/enant  -jcorr/e  O.   1^/Mcs. 


First  Sergeant  James  H.  Bniery,  born,  Portsmoulli, 
N.  H.;  enlisted  September  1,  18G2  ;  age,  23;  reduced  to 
ranks  May  lO,  18()8  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1863; 
died  August  ."),  1870. 

Seeond  Sergenut  John  H.  Morrill,  l)()rn,  Chelmsford, 
Mass.;  enlisted  September  17.  18()2;  age,  27;  appointed 
first  sergeant  May  10,  18()3;  mustered  out  August  20, 
18(53;   died  July  17,  1873. 

Third  Sergeant  Howard  M.  Cliase,  born.  Stratliam, 
N.  II.;  enlisted  Sept^Miibei'  12,  b^()2  ;  age.  22;  died  Au- 
gust 17,  1863,  at  Memphis,  Tt'iiii. 


NEW  IT A:\rrsTTTrjE  volfntepihs.  551 

Ponrth  Sergeant  H(hvin  J.  Hobhs,  l)()iii.  II:iin|)t()ii, 
N.  TT.;  unlisted  Se})t('inl)<'i-  I(»,  18(52;  ;i,i;'e,  :!.");  mustered 
out  August  20,   ISOH;    P.  ().  nddrt'ss  I  l:iiu])t()ii,  N.  TT. 

Pifth  Sergeant  Jsniel  S.  Pleteher,  boiii,  Pliii)i)sbuig, 
Maine  ;  enlisted  Se})tend)er  22,  1862  ;  age,  2(»  ;  mustered 
out  August  20,  ]Sm\  P.  ().  address  J2  Pirkering  street, 
Poi'tsiuoutli,  N.  H. 

Pirst  Corporal  PJeaxor  ().  Additon,  1)()i]i,  Tleinion, 
Maine  ;  enlisted  Octobei'  1:5,  J8(;2  ;  age,  22;  niusteivd  out 
August  20,   I8():];  P.  ().  address  Saco,  Maine. 

Seeond  Corporal  Nathaniel  Spinneys,  born,  Kliot, 
Maine;  eidisted  October  8,  1802;  age,  21;  discdiaiged 
Mandi  12,  1S()8,  at  P)aton  Rouge,  La. 

Third  Corporal  James  A.  Waterhouse,    born,    Port 
land.  Maine  ;  enlisted  Septend)er  18,  18()2  ;  age,  27  ;  must- 
tered   out   August   20,    18(;;)  ;    P.    ( ).    address   2    Autumn 
street,    Portsmouth,  N.  II. 

Ponrth  Corporal  Daniel  ( D.)  Danielson,  l)o]ii,  Poits- 
mouth,  N.  TI.;  enlisted  October  l->,  bs(;2  ;  age,  :>;>  ;  must- 
ered out  August  20,  1808;  P.  O.  address  24  Hanover 
street,  Portsnututli.  N.  IT. 

Piftli  Corporal  William  A.  Rand,  boin,  INutsmoutli, 
N.  IT.;  enlisted  Se[)temV)er  2,  1S()2  ;  age,  20;  mustered  out 
August  20,  1808  ;  volunteered  foi"  storming  i)arty  at  Port 
Hudson,  La.,  under  (xeneral  Order  41)  ;  P.  O.  address 
South  Seabrook,  N.  IL 

Sixth  Corporal  Jaeoh  Haddock,  boin,  Saiid  Andiews, 
N.  P.;  enlisted  Se})tend)ei-  10,  1802;  age,  40;  mustei'e(l 
out  August  2o,'180:3. 


552  IIISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH     1;E(^IMENT 

Seventh  Corporal  John  B.  Le  Bosqnet,  born,  Notting 
liam,  N.  H.;  enlisted  September  15,  18(J2  ;  age,  22  ;  must- 
ered ont  Ang-nst  20,  1868. 

Eighth  Corporal  John  L.  Chase,  born,  Stratliam,  N. 
H.;  enlisted  Se})tember  12,  18(52;  age,  20;  died  August 
20,  1808,  at  Memidiis,  Tenn. 

Musician  Charles H.  Bdny,  horu,  Greenland,  N.  H.; 
enlisted  September  4,  1802  ;  age,  17  ;  mustered  out  Au- 
gust 20,  1868  ;  died  August  24,  18(58. 

Musician  Samuel  Ruvill,  born,  Topsliam,  Elaine  ;  en- 
listed November  5,  18(52  ;  age,  18  ;  deserted  December 
4,  18(52.  at  New  A'ork  City. 

Wagoner  Henry  O.  Hllingwood,  born,  Bethel,  Mnine; 
enlisted  September  1,  18(52  ;  age,  80;  died  March  1,  1863, 
at  Cai-rollton,  La. 

PRIVATES. 

i/e/ir>' J5.  .If/^jjivS,  l)orii.  Farmington.  X.  IT.;  enlisted 
Octobei81,  18(52:  :ige,  27;  deserted  Novembej-  1,  18(52, 
at  Concord,  N.  II. 

James  Anderson,  ])uri],  \]\K\ny,  N.  Y.;  enlisted  No- 
vember 5,  18(52  ;  age,  44  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868; 
die(l  ,lune  28,  187(5. 

Samuel  G.  Armour,  boi-n,  Scotland  ;  enlisted  October 
18,  18(52;  :ige,  81  :  deserted  N()vend)er  8,  1862,  at  Con- 
cord. N.  11. 

Charles  M.  Avery,  })(>in,  \'ei-shii'.-.  \'t.;  enlisted  Se]»- 
tember  5,  18(52;  :ige,  ID;  transl'ei-i'ed  to  (N»nii»any  A  Jan- 
uary I,  bS(;;5  ;  mustered  out  August  20.  18(58;  P.  O.  ad- 
di'ess,  Corinth,  Vt. 


NEW    HAMPSIIIKE    VOLUNTEERS.  553 

Samuel  Blatch ford,  \m)Y\\,  Eastport,  Miiine  ;  cnlisfed 
Septeni])er  If),  18(52;  age,  IS;  mustered  out  Augii.st  20, 
1868;  P.  O.  address  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 

Thomas  Brnckett,h^n-\\,V^)v\^mo\\X\\.  N.  II.;  enlisted 
Sei)tend)er  2,  18(')2  ;  a.ue,  28;  mustered  out  Au,i;-ust  20, 
1868;  died  July  29,  180."),  at  Poitsmoutli,  N.  II. 

Heiuy  M.  Carter,  ])<n'w,  Dublin;  enlisted  ()ctol)er  27, 
1862  ;   a.u'e,  44;   died  .lune  24,  1868.  at  New  Orleans,   La. 

George  E.  Chapman,  horn,  Stratliani,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
Sei)tend)er  12,  1862;  a.ii'e,  18;  dis('hari;ed  to  datcAunaist 
20,  1868;  died  INIarcli  If),  18()4,  at  Stratliam,  N.  II. 

James  Cunningham,  l)orn,  New  York  City;  enlisted 
September  19,  1862  ;  age,  44  ;  a,p[»ointed  sergeant  June 
1,  1868  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868  ;  died  June  25, 
1890,  at  Portsnu)Utli,  N.  H. 

Franklin  Dow,  l)orn,  Kennebunkpoit,  Maine  ;  eu- 
listed  September  20,  18(52;  age,  2i')  ;  mustered  out  Aug- 
ust 20,  1868. 

Isaac  C.  Drew,  born,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  ;  eulisted 
Sei)tend)er  2,  1862:  age,  22  ;  discharged  to  date  August 
20,  1863  ;  died  September  1,  1868,  in  hospital  at  Albany, 
N.  Y. 

William  Dutton,  born,  Phihubdphia,  Pa.;  enlisted 
Sei)tember  2,  1862;  age,  30:  died  August  17,  1863,  at 
New  Oileans,  La. 

Hollis  W.  Fairbanks,  boiu,  Mill'ord,  Mass.;  e'ulisted 
Octobei'  7,  18(;2;  age,  48;  deserted  l)e<'end)er  8,  K8()2, 
at  New  Yolk  ('ity;  apprehended  .June  7,  18(54;  dis- 
charged with  loss  of  pay  and  allowances  July  7,  18(55, 
at  Concord,- N.  II. 


f)04  HISTORY    OF    TIIP:    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Theodore  Fisher,  born,  Stonghton,  Mass.;  enlisted 
September  27,  1862;  age,  27;  died  June  IT),  186:^,  at 
New  Orleans.  La. 

John  Flynn,  born,  Poi'tsmouth,  N.  H.;  enlisted  Octo- 
V)er  (1,  1802  ;  age,  21  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  18(58. 

Otto  Frnnek,  born,  Piaissia  ;  enlisted  Noveml)er  1, 
1862  ;  age,  28  ;  deserted  November  8,  1862.  at  Concord. 
N.  H. 

Frederick  Franz,  born,  Anstria  ;  enlisted  October  17, 
18()2  ;  age,  28  :  deserted  December  1,  1862,  at  New  York 
City. 

George  H.  Glawson,  born,  Boston,  Mass.  ;  enlisted 
November  21,  1862;  age,  21;  discharged  Jnly  24,  1868, 
at  Port  Hudson,  La.;     P.  O.  address    Hawk's  Park,  Fla. 

Charles  F\  Goodwin,  l)orn,  Acton,  Maine  ;  enlisted 
September  22,  1862  :  age,  21  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
1868  ;  P.  O.  address  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 

Thomas  Goodwin,  born,  Boston,  Mass.;  enlisted  Oc- 
tober 28,  1862;  age,  80;  deserted  November  ID,  18(52,  at 
Concord.  N.  H. 

Thomas  J.  Goodwin,  born,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.;  en- 
listed September  16,  1862  ;  age,  21  ;  deserted  January  6, 
1868,  at  Can-oil  ton.  La. 

Charles  A.  C.  Gray,  boi-n,  Portsmouth.  N.  PL;  enlisted 
Octo])er  27,  18(52  ;  age,  22  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  1868; 
P.  O.  address  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 

Alanson  Hadley,  born,  Columbia.  N.  IL;  enlisted  Sep- 
tember 18,  18(52  ;  age,  88  ;  transferred  to  Company  A  Jan- 
uary 1,  1868  ;  mustered  out  August  2o,  18(58  ;  died  August 
27,  1863. 


NKW     IIAM  I'SIIII;I<:    VoLrXTKEIJS.  hDb 

Otis  F.  Haley,  \n)\]\,  (i(»s[>()ir  ( ^)  ;  enlisted  September 
18,  ]8(;r2:  n.u'e.  21  :  i)iiisr<M-<Ml  out  Au.u-u.st  2<).  ]S()8;  P.  O. 
nddress  Poi'tsnioiit  li,  X.   II. 

Charles  W.  Hnll,  born,  Bniriii.^tori,  N.  II.;  cidisted  Oc- 
tober to.  ]H(52;  age,  28;  deserted  Novend)ei'  1,  1 8(52,  -.ir 
Coiicoi'd,  X.  II. 

John  Hnllisey,  boiii,  Ti-tdand  ;  enlisted  Novend)er  7, 
]8(J2  ;  [ige.  21  ;  deserted  N(»vpiid)er  7,  ]8()2,  at  Coneord, 
X.  H. 

John  Higgins,  born,  York,  Maine  ;  enlisted  ()('tol)er  IT), 
1862;  age,  28;  discliai'ged  to  date  Angust  20,   1803. 

George  W.  Hill,  boiii,  Wakefield.  N.  II.;  enlisted  No- 
vend)er  12,  18(')2  ;  age,  21  :  deserted  Novend)er  i:],  18()2.  at 
Concord,  N.  H. 

Joseph  G  Holmes,  boiii,  York,  Maine  ;  enlisted  Oc- 
tober 29,  18(32  ;  age,  82  ;  died  April  IM,  1808,  at  New  Or- 
leans. La. 

Riifus  L.  Jones,  l)orn.  Rand()l})li,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
Aiiu'iist  2(i,  18(i2  ;  age,  11)  ;  mustered  ont  August  20,  180:)  ; 
volunteered  for  stoiauing  p;irty  at  Poi't  Hudson,  La., 
under  General  Older  41);  died  Fel)ruary  10,  18(54,  at 
AVarrenton,  Va. 

Christopher  Kelenherk,  boiii,  (rei'maiiy  ;  enlisted  No- 
vember 10,  18(;2  ;  age,  82;  discharged  March  17,  18()8,,  at 
New  Orleans,  La.   died  September  1),  1888. 

Jacob  F.  Knight,  born,  Portland,  Maine  ;  enlisted  No- 
vember 8,  18t)2  ;  age,  2i)  ;  died  August  8,  18(58,  at  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Philipp  Krause,  ])nv]].  Piiissia  ;  enlisted  November  o, 
1603  ;  age,  24  ;  desertt^d  Nov.  A,  18(52,  at  Concord,  N.  11, 


5r)(i  HISTORY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 


Charles  W.  Leavitt  enlisted  as  a  i)i-ivate  in  ronipaiiy 
K,  Sixfeentli  Uei;,-iinent  New  llanipsliii-e  A'olunteeis.  and 
was  detailed  as  orderly  lor  Gcnei-als  Andrews  and  ln,i;ia- 
liani  (liii'in^-  Marcdi,  ISC):),  Poi-t  Hudson  expedition.  He 
was  afterwards  detailed  for  sjtecial  dnfy  at  (leiieral 
]>anks"  liead(|narters,  at  New  C)rleans,  La.,  and  had 
(diarge  of  pi-isoners  of  war.  sent  to  Key  West  an<l  Dry 
Tortngas.  lie  was  relievt'd  to  accompany  his  i-eginieiil 
home.     His  residence  is  71)  M  Kifh  street,  New  York,  X.  Y. 

Bennett  Laighion,  ])(nn,  Stratham,  N.  11.;  enlisted 
Septend)er  2.  18(52;  age,  11);  ap]iointed  coi-])oral;  died 
Aug-iist  20,  lcSi)8,  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 


NEW    lIAMI'SimiE    VOJ.I'NTKEKS.  557 

John  Lenry,  ^^<^y^u  licliiiid;  (unlisted  October  1,  IS(')2  ; 
iiii'H,  ;U  ;   (lied  .Itiiic  1<>,    ISt');!,  at  New  Orleans,  Jja. 

Patrick  Mahoncy,  \)i)\\\,    lr<daiid  ;  enlisted   JN'ovembcr 

7,  18(52  ;   ao-e,  2(5  ;   deserted  Nov.  7,  Ic^Uj^,  at  (\)iK'ord,  N.ll. 

Willhini    Mason,    born,    ('anibi-jd^-e,     Mass.;    ('nlist('(l 

Novendje]'    J  J,    J8()2;   a,i;"e,    21  ;    deserted    Novendx-i'    2(1, 

]S(;2,  at  New  Voik  City. 

Angus  McAntirc,  born.  Scotland  ;  enlisted  October  !7. 
18(J2;  age,  2;");  deserted  October  2;"),  ](S02,  at  Oonc(jrd, 
N.  II. 

Daniel  McCorniick,  Jr.,  born,  Ireland;  enlisted  No- 
vend)er  ](»,  1S(;2  ;  age,  :)(»  ;   ninslered  ont  Aiignst  2<>,  ISC):!. 

Jolm  Mclntosli,  born.  New  York  ;  eidistcfl  Novend)p|- 
i:{,    1S('.2;   age,  2:5;   desci'tcd    November  11),    bS(i2,  at(N)n 

cord,  :^.  W. 

William  J.  Mills,  l)oi-n,  Ooi'liam,  Maine  ;  enlisted  No- 
vend)er  14,  b'-'Iri  ;  age,  42  ;  iiinsb'i-ed  out  A  ngiist  20,  IHi;:!; 
died  Ai)ial   IT),   bSSl).  at  PoiMsiiiontli,  N.   IL 

James  Mitchell,  boiai,  iMigland  ;  (^nlisted  Septenil)ei- 
<'>,  1S(;2,  age,  ID;  died  Angiist  t),  ISi;:!,  near  \icksbnrg. 
Miss. 

i?/7c7s  8.  Moores,  hoiai,  Plaintield.  N.  11.  ;  eidisti^l 
Septenil)er  Id,  bS(;2  ;  age,  27  ;  transferivd  to  (M)nii)any 
A  Jannarv  1,   bS(;:5  ;   mustered  out  August  2o,   ISC);*). 

John  Murphy,  l)oi'n,  (!ork  ('ouuty,  Ireland;  <Mdisled 
August  2<S,  1S(;2  ;  age,  WC)  \  mustered  out  August  2(», 
ISC.:]. 

Joseph  U.  Nash,  born,  I'oston,  Mass.;  enliste(|  Sep- 
tember n,  1SC)2  ;  age,  :>()  ;  mnstei'ed  out  August  20, 
JS(;:5 ;   die<l  Mav  :]o.  1SS4. 


558  TTTSTOKY    OF    THE    .SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Frnnklin   W.  Neal,  l>orn,  New  Castle,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
September  22,  18(32  ;    age.  8.")  ;    disoharued   to  date  Aug 
20,  ISOH. 

Timothy  O'Lenry,  boni,  Ireland  ;  enlisted  Sei)teni- 
l)er  17,  1862  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August  20,  18(53  ; 
died  .lune  22,  1889. 

Ephraini  H.  Packer,  boiii.  (Iieenlaiid,  IS".  H.;  en- 
listed, October  17,  18(i2  ;  age,  21  ;  mustei'ed  out  August 
20,  18(5:5;  P.  ().  address  '2^  (Uiestnut  street,  Cambi-idge- 
]>()rt.  M:iss. 

Albert  L.  Payne,  born,  Springtield,  N.  IT.;  enlisted 
Re|)tember  (i,  1862  ;  age,  20  ;  mustered  out  August  20, 
bSCH  ;   died  July  8,  1886. 

Charles  A.  Paysoii,  born,  Medt'ord,  Mass.;  enlisted 
October  14,  18(52;  age,  21  ;  deserted  October  25.  1862, 
at  Concord,  X.  H. 

John  H.  Pearson,  born  Portsmoutli,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
October  (5,  1862;  age,  18:  mustered  out  August  20, 
1863  ;    died  August  22,  18(53. 

Charles  M.  Perkins,  born,  Ilauipton,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
Septend)e]'  1(5,  1862;  age,  35;  mustered  out  August  20, 
18(53. 

Josiah  D.  Perkins,  born,  Hampton,  X.  H.  ;  enlisted 
November  11,  1862;  age,  18;  mustered  out  August  20, 
18(53  ;  P.  O.  address  Ilillsboi'o,  New  Mexico. 

John  Poole,  born,  Plainlield,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 10,  b8(52  ;  age,  35  ;  traiisfei'i'ed  to  (Jonii)any  A  Janu- 
ai-y  1,  18(53;   discharged   to   date  August  20,    1863;   diecl 


N1^:W    iTAMrsniHK   VoUmTEEKS.  f)r)0 

Oriii  Seavey,  l)(»iii,  Saco,  Maine  ;  enlisted  Octohci-  IS, 
1S():2;  a,i;<',  "i'l  ;  iimsrHi'cd  out  A  u.^-nst  20,    ISC),');    1*.  ().  ad 
dress  (12  Kssex  sti'rct.   1  lavcfliill,  Mass. 

Dcivid  S.  Shnttiick,  ]n)ru.  Dorehestei-,  N.  II.:  mlishMJ 
Sejiteinber  ;>,  IS()2  ;  a.ue,  ID;  t  i-ansferred  to  ( N»iii]>a  ii  \  A 
.laiiuary  I.  ISC)!];  ditMl  .Inly  12,  1S(U,  at  Lynic,  N.   II. 

James  Shaw,  Jr.,  \)i*rn,  Kiii;laud  ;  ciilisted  SHptcinlxM- 
2,  IS()2;  ao-e.  22  ;  nnistei'ed  out  A  u.t;-iist  2i),  ISO^;  V.  (). 
addi-(\ss  A  ui-oi'a.   111. 

John  Shiiw,  horn,  England  ;  enlisted  November  1(», 
IS(')2  ;  a,<;v.  :)2  ;   niustei-ed  out  Au^aist  20,  I'SiV.). 

Robert  Smart,  born,  Portsmouth,  N.  II.;  pulistp<l  Oc- 
tobei-  J  J,  JS02  ;  age,  27  ;  died  June  11,  1803,  at  New  Or- 
leans, La. 

Mnoch  P.  Smith,  boru,  llayniond,  N.  II.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tend)er  o,  bS()2  ;  age,  88  ;  transferred  to  Company  A  Jan- 
uary ].   ISC)!',  ;  died  July  20,  1S(;8,  at  New  Orleans,  La. 

James  L.  Smith,  l)orn,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.;  enlisted 
October  16,  1802  ;  age,  81  ;  died  Jnne  8,  1803,  at  New  Or- 
leans, La. 

Charles  Stewart,  boru,  Scotland  ;  enlisted  October  20, 
18(52  ;  age,  28  ;  deserted  Fel)ruary  12,  1808,  at  Oarrolltoii, 
La.;  a})pi'elien(led  ;  assigned  to  (/onii)any  (I,  Liglilh  Regi- 
ment, New  Ilampsliire  Volunteers;  discliargiMl  October 
2r),  1804,  at  Natclie/..  Miss.;  P.  O.  address  Poi'tsiuouth. 
N.  II. 

Joliii  Sullivan,  ])orn,  Lowell,  Mass.;  culisted  Novem- 
ber 4,  b'^02  ;  age,  81  ;  deserted  Noveml)er  7,  1802,  at 
Concord,  N.  H. 


560  ITTSTOTJY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    P.EGTMENT 

Geor/?'e  Svrcef,  boni.  ('oliniil)i;u  N.  II.;  enlisted  Sep- 
tpiiil)ei'  1).  18()2;  a,ii'e,  H2;  ti'nnsferi'ed  ro  (^)iiip;iMy  A  .I;iii- 
iinry  1,  18(58;  mustered  out  Au,ii,-ust  2(».  ISO;];  P.  O.  nd- 
di-ess  Cornish  Flat,  N.  II. 

John  Taylor,  born,  New  Yoik  City  ;  enlisted  Octobei- 
20,  1802  ;  age,  20  ;  deserted  Octol)er  :U,  J 802,  at  Concord, 
N.  II. 

Isaac  Thomas,  l)orn,  England  ;  enlisted  8'eptend)er  2, 
18(;2  ;  age,  40  ;   died  August  1,  1808,  at  Port  Hudson,  La. 

Kendall  H.  Thomas,  lunn,  ^Nlcdford,  Mass.;  enlisted 
September  2,  i^(')2;  age,  11);  transferred  to  Company  A 
January  1,  1808;  mustered  out  August  2(»,  1808;  P.  (). 
address  Lel)anon.  N.  II. 

Mark  W.  Tucker,  born,  Portsmoutli,  N.  II.;  enlist«-d 
October  27,  1802;  age,  2<j  ;  died  February  8,  J 808,  at 
Cai'rollton.  La. 

Charles  Wagner,  born.  Cermany  ;  enlisted  Noveml)er 
1,  180)2;  age,  28;  deserted  Novend)er  8,  1802,  at  iUm- 
cord.  N.  II. 

Samuel  W.  W/j/^/c;?,  |  l)irt  liplace  uidviiown]  culisted 
Oot(J)er  22,  1802;  age,  '.U;  ti'ansr(n'r(Ml  liom  Comi)any  E 
Novend)er  22,  1802  ;  dis('liarg(Ml  to  date  August  20,  1808; 
died  August  '2'A,   1808,,  at  Mempliis,  'IVuin. 

James  H.  Walker,  ])i)vu,  Portsmouth,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
October  27,  b802  ;  age,  28;  died  Angiist  12,  bS08,  neai- 
Vi(dvsbuig,  Miss. 

Benjamin  F.  Watkins,  ])()rn,  Portsinoulh,  N.  II.;  en- 
listed Octobei- 27,  bS(;2  ;  age,  22;  died  Eebiuary  4,  1808, 
al  Cairollton,  La. 


NEW     HA.MI'SIIIKE    VoETNTEERS  561 

Dnuivl  Wiitkins,  hoiii,  PortsiiKuilli,  X.  II.;  eiilistcd 
N()V('nil)ei-  :>,  h'iCt'i  ;  ;i,u'e,  22;  died  Aiiu'iist  jlj,  ISC)!!,  ;it 
Mciiipliis.  THim. 

Jiiines  Wvhcyiter,  hoiii.  Tjoiidoii,  Eii,u'l:iiid  ;  ciilisfcd 
Novciubei-  lo.  1S(;2  ;  ;i,i;-<',  "iO  ;  deserted  Novembei-  11), 
ISOri,  at  Coiicoi'd,  X.    IT. 

John  h\  Whiddvn,  l)«>i'ii.  Poi'tsnioiitli,  N.  II.;  enlisted 
Sei)tenil)er  12,  1S(»2;  :i,ne,  8()  ;  dii-d  Au,i;'iist  \(\,  ISOH.  at 
M<'mi)liis.  Teiiii. 

George  M.  Wilkins,  l)()rii,  lleniiiker,  N.  11.;  enlisted 
Oi'tolx:"!-  lo,  ]8()2  ;  a,i;e,  2i)  ;  appointed  (piarteiaiiaster- 
sero-e:int  N()ve]id)er  22.  1S()2  ;  second  lirntmint  ('oin- 
[)any  K  Ai)ril  2,"),  ISC):!;  not  mnstei'ed  ;  di<:'d  Aii<;nst  20, 
18(;;i  at  I'.ellel'onraine.  Oliio. 

Chnrles  B.  Woodman,  born,  Poi*tland.  ^^aine  ;  en- 
listetl  No\<'nd)er  4,  1S(')2;  au'e,  21  ;  deserte(l  November 
:>,   1S(;2,  at  Concoi'd,   N.   II. 

George  A.  Woodsum,  born,  Saeo,  Maine;  enlisted 
Septend)er  23,  1802  ;  age,  18  ;  mustered  out  August  2(), 
1808. 

John  P.  Woodstim,  born,  Saro,  Maine  ;  enlisted  Sej)- 
tember  2:'),  1802;  age,  2(>  ;  ti-ansfei  red  from  Couipany  E 
November  22,  18(52;   niiisterecl  out  August  2<»,  ^S^)'^. 


Tt  a]i])eai's  fi-oni  tlie  rosier  tiiat  the  first  enlistments  in 
Sixteenth  New  I  lainjishiic  \'oluiil(M>rs  were  All)ert  II. 
Smart.  ('()m[)any  1),  .\ngnst  0,  1862,  and  ('harles  Wilson, 
('onipany    I).  AngnstC),  1802. 


b&J  ITTSTdUV    OF    TTiK    StXTKKXTit    i;K<inrKXT 

SUMMARY. 

Sixteenth   New   Hampshire   Volunteer   Infantry. 

Original   Xiinil)Hi' of  Officers 'M) 

Enlisted  Men 87^ 

Total yi4 


Died  of  Disease. 


Officers n 

Enlisted  Men ^^Of) 

Drowned,   Enlisted  Men  '> 

Total 21H 


Mustered   Out  or   Discharged  to   Date   August   20,    1863. 

Officers :5<> 

Enlisted  Men r)72 


Total 002 

Discharged  on   Other   Dates. 

Officers 4 

Enlisted  Men 48 

Lost  l)}^  Transfer 3 

Deserted 44 


yu 


Total 914 


Died  of    Disease 210     28      percent. 

Total  Deaths  From  All  (hiiises 218     28.8     ''       " 

We  have  record  of  r)2  deaths.  An^i;-nst  1st  to  10th,  and 
81  from  Angnst  20th  to  81st,  and  18  dnring  the  month 
of  Se})tend)er,  1868. 

Place  of  Birth. 

United  States 8,")7  Germany T) 

Ireland 17  Austria 1 

Canada lo  India 1 

England  8  New  Bi-nnswick 1 

Scotland  0  Unknown 8 


n 

> 

T] 

m 

> 
H 

— i 

tn 
m 


SKETCH    OF    ORIGIN    OF    THE    ASSOCIATION     AND    OF    THE 

CONSTRUCTION  OF  THE  HEADQUARTERS  BUILDiNG 

OF  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT  AT  THE  WEIRS. 

By  Comrades  Oscar  W.  Baldwin  and  Henry  L.  Johnson. 


BESTDP]  a  ]aru;'e  liTanite  boulder,  near  tlie  shore  of 
Lake  Wiiinipiseogee,  at  The  Weirs,  N.  IL,  the 
Sixteenth  Regiment  New  Hampsliire  Volunteers 
Association  was  organized  in  August,  1878.  Captain 
Elias  F.  Smith,  of  Company  A,  was  elected  President, 
and  was  re-elected  annually  until  1882,  when  he  declined 
a  re-election. 

\\'<'  pitclu'd  our  tents,  188()-\S1,  near  where  the  TTotel 
Weirs  iinw  stands.  During  the  yeai'  1881  the  State 
aiil  hoiilics  procured  the  construction  of  several  barracks 
for  use*  of  the  State  Association,  and  the  Sixteenth  liegi- 
ment  Association  was  assigned  (juarters  in  No.  -?,  where 
meetings  were  held  annually  until  our  cottage  was  icady 
for  occupancy  in  1887. 


500  niSTOKY    OF    TllK    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 

Cni)taiii  Aai'on  A.  (Jlaik,  of  Company  C,  was  elected 
President  at  the  1882  encampment  and  sei'ved  two  years. 
Sergeant  Oscar  W.  Baldwin,  of  Company  A,  was  elected 
President  in  1884  and  served  until  1800. 

There  liad  been  efforts  made  at  tlie  188()  meeting,  to 
raise  by  personal  subscriptions  sufficient  money  to  i)ay 
for  tlie  construction  of  a.  cottage  as  a  home  for  the 
association  when  an  expression  of  views  was  called  for 
l)y  the  President  of  the  association.  Henry  L.  Johnson 
the  present  President  being  called  upon  res})onded  tliat 
"substantial  means  were  more  necessary  than  talk." 
He  placed  a  substantial  contril)ution  in  the  hands  of  the 
President,  arulwas  followed  in  this  by  others,  so  that  in 
a  few  moments  the  association  had  about  sToo  in  money 
and  pledges. 

It  was  voted  that  Comrades  Oscar  W.  Baldwin,  George 
E.  Crowell  and  All)ert  AV.  Wiggin  be  appointed  a  com- 
mittee with  full  power  to  solicit  contributions,  make  col- 
lections, and  contract  for  the  construction  of  a  cottage, 
the  selection  of  plans  being  left  to  their  good  judgment. 
The  work  was  begun  on  the  Association  Home  in  the  fall 
of  1880  and  the  building  was  dedicated  at  our  August, 
1887,  encampment,  Cai)tain  John  L.  Rice,  of  Company 
II,  delivering  the  formal  address.  We  were  honored  at 
oui'  b^87  encam])ment  by  a  visit  fiom  ({cneral  John  ('. 
Fremont  and  other  dist  inu-iiishcd  ummi  of   military  fame. 


NEW    HA^MPSIITKK    VOUNTKEUS. 


no? 


At  our  encaiiipment,  in  August,  1888,  the  association 
was  pi'esented  witli  a  tl;i,u'  by  Mrs.  Florence  Johnson,  a 
native  of  Louisiana,  and  the  wife  of  Comrade  Ileni'V  L. 
Johnson.  Slie  was  unanimously  elected  "•Daughter  of 
the  Kegiment.''  At  our  encampment  in  ]8'.)()  the  last  of 
oiii'  indebtedness  was  ]»aid  and  the  building  committee 
was  I'elievcd   from  further  (luty. 

Di'.  Kl bridge  (i.  Beers,  of  Comitany  A,  was  elected 
Pi'esident  at  our  August,  18',)i),  encaiu])meiit,  and  sei'ved 
two  years.  Li<'utenant  Pliili])  ('.  l>eau,  of  ('om])anyir, 
was  electfMl  President  at   the  .Vuii'ust,  181)2,  meeting,  and 


t)()S  HISTOUV    OF    THE    SlXTEEXTlF    KKGIMKXT 

was  succeeded  in  181)4  l)y  Henry  L.  Jolinsoii,  ol'  Com- 
pany II,  the  pi'esent  in('nni])ent. 

Immediately  after  our  18*,)4  encampment  an  effort  was 
begun  to  discover  tlie  address  of  every  living  comi'ade. 
This  work  involved  great  laboi"  and  iiatience.  and  the 
data  secured  was  published  in  ISOo  as  a  souvenir  roster, 
containing  371  names,  nu^st  of  whom  had  responded  to 
communications. 

To  Comrade  Oscar  W.  Baldwin,  chaii'maii  of  the  build- 
ing committee,  belongs  much  of  the  credit  and  honor  of 
providing  our  beautiful  home.  Comrades  George  E. 
Crowell  and  Albert  AV.  Wiggin  al)ly  seconded  his  efforts 
and  have  our  sincere  appreciation  foi-  their  generous 
labor  for  the  cause.  The  cottage  was  paid  for  by  sub- 
scriptions contributed  by  members  of  the  association  and 
juoniinent  citizens,  for  which  stock  was  issued  in  shares 
of  five  dollars  each.  Since  1890  additions  and  improve- 
ments have  been  made,  all  of  which  will  contribute  to 
the  happiness  and  comfort  of  our  comrades  and  friends 
when  visiting  The  AVeirs. 

Total  number  shares  issued 219 

The  five  largest  stockholders  are  : 

SHARES. 

Henry  L.  Johnson  and  wife 21 

George  E.  Crowell 20 

Samuel  E.  Iloldin 10 

Charles  II.  AVoods 10 

Oscar   \V.  Baldwin 9 


NEW     HA^NrrsHTirK    VOLrN'I'KKKS.  571 

TIk*  following  coiiii'iidcfs    own    sliarcs,  iiiiiiilxM'iiiii-   fioiii 
one  to  six  (^;i(']i  : 


A\'illi:iin   II.  Al)borf, 
]^(l,i;;ir  Iv   Adiiiiis. 
Riclimd  W.  Alh'ii, 
Edward  W.  Atkinson, 
(diai-]('s  K.  Anstin, 
Bai'ton  A.  l^alloii, 
riiilip  (\  l',ean, 
Ell)ri<l,n-e  (i.  l^eers, 
Geor.ue  W.  Bos  worth, 
A.  Eoutw(dl, 
William  J.  Bradford, 
HoUis  V.  Bi'ockway, 
David   E.  l>url)ank, 
John  (;.  Caskin. 
Ilarvpy  TT.  Cartel-. 
Jos('|)li  \\\  ( diainl)erlin, 
Edwin  ( diandler, 
(ieorge  C.  (diase, 
Jolin  Jl  (Miase, 
Tliomas  (diase, 
Benjamin  Cdine, 
Ste])lien  P.  Colby, 
i\lait  in  L.  ( '()l))nrn, 
Ceoi^u'e  ( N)ok, 
Alhert  Cram, 
Moses  (Jronibie, 
Levi  M.  Curtis, 


Alon/o  1).  Davenpoit, 
William   \l.   Dimond, 
E.  P()it<'r  Dod.j;-.', 
Albeit  IE  Drown, 
(?eor,L;e  '!'.   Dnnlield, 
(leorue  11  Elliott, 
Charles  IE  Emerson, 
Andrew  S.  Farnnm, 
Cyrus  M.  Eisk, 
S(i[uires  Eorsaitli, 
Benjamin  C.  (farland, 
-lames  L.  (ierrish, 
i'^raiicis  A.  Cile, 
William  A.  Cile, 
(leori^'c  E.  (Toodhue, 
William  W.  Ifall, 
Jose[)li  P.  Heath, 
Charles  IE  llerl)ert, 
Andy  1 1  (.It. 
Daniel  E.   Ibtward, 
Charh's  C.  Iloyt, 
Moses  Hoyt, 
Elbrido-e  K.  .lewtdt, 
Joseph  (E  Johnson. 
Nellie  M.  Johnsdii, 
(xeoi'^e  T.  Jones, 
David  Kendal], 


572  iiisTouY   OF  THE  sixteenth   keuiment 

Lucien  M.  Kilburn,  Charles  W.  Scotl. 

Marshall  Kimball,  Hubert  Sleei)er, 

Alvah  S.  Lil)l)ey,  David  I).  Smith, 

.b.hii  II.   Loud.  Elias  F.  Smitli. 

Heiii-y  R.  :\I:irtiii.  Moses  R.  Smitli. 

Webster. I.  Ma'tiii,  Ivlward  Stevens, 

Moses  P.  Milieu,  .losej)!!  B.  Thiirber, 

rieorge  11.  Melviii.  Rul'iis  N.  Til  ton, 

.lames  A.  ISlerrill,  Luther  C.  Titcouib, 

William  Noi'ris,  Liifher  T.  Towuseiid, 

(reorge  Noyes,  Albri't  AV.  Wiggiii, 

-lames  1).  Perry,  Aldeii  S.  Wood, 

Sylv.'StrT  IL   Po\V(dK  Fdleu  R.  AVood. 

William  A.   Kand,  William  V.  AVood, 

.loliii  L.   Rice.  Daniel  R.  AVoodward, 

.Tohu  F.  Rush,  Lucius  1>.  AA^right. 


NEW     IJA.MrsiUKE    \(JL  LIN'TKEKS. 


578 


AX  active  ]):iiricipari(jii  in  tlie  i)roducti()ii  of  llic  woils. 
and  an  intimate  knowledii'e  of  tlie  cii'cunislanccs 
at  ti'iiding  the  w]-itini;- (d'  onr  i-e,i;i mental  liistoi'v.  impels 
me  toadd  a  tril)nt(^  of  sincei'e  a})i)ieciati()n  \\)r  the  i-ainesi 
Jabor  of  onr  histoi'ian.  in  ])ic'|)aiiiii;'  an  accniate  record 
of  oni' service,  and  m  ,i;ivini;-  onr  i-ei;iinent  tin-  place  it 
deserves  in  the  liistory  of  JN'ew  Hampshire. 

Mu(di  ditliculty  attended  the  collecting  of  mateiials, 
and  ureat  ]al)oi-  was  I'ecpiired  to  ari'an^e  the  snbject- 
matter  in  a  manner  that  \\()nld  presei-ve  aci-nrah'ly  the 
facts  and  i^'ive  no  needless  oifense  to  anyone. 

It  is  several  years,  as  is  W(dl  known,  since  Prof. 
Townsend  accej)ted  the  })osition  of  rei:im(-iilal  liistoi'ian, 
l)Mt  ot  liei'  dnl  ies,  and  es[iecially  the  failni-e  of  oni- asso- 
ciation to  i)i-ovi(le  '' ways  and  means  "  for  the  puMica- 
t ion  of  t  hi'  work,  caused  him  to  hesitate  in  its  pi-t"])a ration. 

Ijut  when  we  were  assured  that  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire  would  at  least  partly  pi'otect  us  against 
linancial  loss,  aiul  feelini;'  confident  that  our  comi-ades 
would  secui'e  the  sale  of  the  few  extra  copies  not  taken 
by  the  state,  he  be,ii,'an  the  labor,  ap})lyinii'  his  talent  and 
energy  with  the  utmost  faithfulness  to  the  discharg-e  of 
tlu'  duty  assigned  him. 

in  doing  this  woi-k  oui'  historian  has  spared  hiinself 
no  lal)or,  and  has  devoted  moi'e  time — time  that  could 
have  been  given  to  I'emunei-ative  litej-aiy  seivice — than 
oni'  comrades  can  realize. 

He  has  manifested  the  same  spiiit  of  devotion  to  duty 
that  ch'.ii'acterized   his  military  service  asadiutant    and 


o74 


HISTOKY    OF    THE    SIXTEENTH    REGIMENT 


oi'diiiaiice  officer,  wirli  the  oft-assumed  duties  of  })liysi- 
eiau.  coniuiissai'y,  nurse  and  cliaplain. 

His  (dosing  work  therefore  is  Init  a  contiiiiialiou  of 
his  efforts  in  18()2,  1868,  to  provide  for  us  comforts  to 
siii)i)ly  oiir  wants  wlienever  in  liis  jiower  to  do  so,  ofte'ii 
dividing  liis  own  I'ations  Avitli  tlie  Innnbiest  of  oiii'  (Com- 
rades, walking  that  a  sick  oi-  enfeebled  man  might  ride 
his  hoi'se.  and  frecpieiitly  giving  christian  burial  to  our 
fallen  comrades  wdien  no  other  clergyman  was  able  to 
render  this  service. 

liis  })ersistent  efforts  under  most  discouraging  condi- 
tions, secured  our  removal  from  that  death  spot — Fort 
Barton,  Butte  a  la  Rose,  Louisiana,  and  saved  the  lives 
of  nniny  of  our  comrades,  who  by  reason  of  that  success- 
ful eff'ort  will  be  permitted    to  read   this  record   of  their 

service. 

Henry  L.   Johnson, 

Prc.v/V/c///. 

^>Lvtccn.lh   Ii('(/i uieiit  Associntion .